Optimization of regulatory actions based on a differentiated approach to managing ambient air quality and health risks

The study focuses on substantiating the most optimal regulatory actions aimed to minimize health risks caused by airborne exposures within Rospotrebnadzor activities including the Clean Air Federal project and the ongoing experiment on setting quotas for emissions. The aim of this study was to comparatively assess effectiveness of regulatory actions as regards specific subjects (exemplified by heat-power engineering objects) with or without use of differentiated approaches to managing ambient air quality and health risks.

We analyzed a database on priority sources of ambient air pollution in an analyzed area; performed a hygienic assessment of ambient air quality relying on computed data and also estimated contributions made by specific chemicals and objects to the total pollution; calculated population health risks; implemented an algorithm for substantiating optimal regulatory actions aimed to mitigate health risks under airborne exposures; comparatively analyzed activities stipulated by the Complex plan and suggested optimal regulatory actions identified by solving the optimization task. We conducted a reconnaissance stage-by-stage assessment of effectiveness of air protection activities over 2019–2023 relying on hygienic indicators and risk levels.

As a result, we established that implementation of air protection activities and a reduction in total emissions of more than 20 pollutants by heat-power engineering objects would not ensure significant improvement of environmental conditions in the analyzed area considering their share contributions. Safe standards would still be violated in residential areas with levels of chemicals reaching 6.25 single MPL and 7.0 average annual MPL. An optimal sufficient result, considering this share contribution, would be a reduction in emissions from all heat-power engineering objects by 3.47 thousand tons of 10 specific chemicals. This is lower than a reduction planned within the Complex plan on total emission reduction (18.1 thousand tons). To ensure conformity with safe standards that stipulate chemical levels in ambient air and to achieve permissible risk levels, it is necessary to apply a differentiated approach to reductions in emissions (by 1.06 thousand tons overall), which targets specific chemicals, at other sources of ambient air pollution.

Use of a differentiated approach to selecting optimal regulatory actions as regards all sources of ambient air pollution considering their share contributions will make it possible to define priority environmental protection activities, adjust the Complex plans and ensure conformity with safe standards and permissible risk levels in all residential areas.