Atmospheric pollution of the Irkutsk region as a result of natural fires and public health risk assessment

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Abstract

Pollution of substances entering the atmosphere as a result of natural fires significantly affects the morbidity level of the Irkutsk region population. The development of measures to reduce it requires an assessment of the risk level and analysis of spatial differences in the composition and number of major issuers. The study is based on statistical data on natural fires in the region in 2014-2019. The comparative analysis of the composition and mass of substances from natural fires on three categories of land have done. These are: forest lands; residential, suburban, recreational lands; peat and peat soils. Peat fires are the most dangerous for health according to the weight and composition of pollutants. The level of health risk as a result of natural fires varies by region within two orders of magnitude. It is affected by the proportion of the area of smoke from the total area of the district, nonuniform distribution of the population within the district, sparsely populated and difficult to access, economic specialization, and others.

About the authors

Tatiana V. Vashchalova

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: VTV_53@mail.ru

PhD in Geography, Associated Professor, senior researcher of the Laboratory of Snow Avalanches and Debris Flows of the Geographical Faculty

1 Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation

Vladimir V. Garmyshev

Irkutsk National Research Technical University

Email: diamant1959@mail.ru

PhD in Engineering, doctoral student of the Department of Industrial Ecology and Life Safety

83 Lermontova St, Irkutsk, 664074, Russian Federation

References

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Copyright (c) 2020 Vashchalova T.V., Garmyshev V.V.

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