Description
The health and condition of the population is one of the most important indicators of the quality of life. According to WHO, 70% of cancer deaths occur in Asia. In the CA (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan are considered ; data from Turkmenistan are not available in open sources) ,maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) are established to regulate air quality, including pollution with carcinogenic substances. Air pollution in populated areas above these levels should not be allowed. They are also used during Envirinamental Impact Assessment , mandatory when making decisions on the construction of industrial facilities. The adequacy of MPC levels is very important for environmental protection and for human health.
Our task
was to assess the MPCs in CA with medical, environmental requirements.
Risk assessment methodology has proven itself in practice to substantiate management environmental decisions and measures to ensure the medical, environmental and hygienic safety of the population. Therefore, an assessment of the carcinogenic risks for pollutants at the MAC level was made using IARC data and US EPA risk assessments.
Standards for maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants in the atmospheric air of CA were compared with the list of carcinogenic substances (groups 1- 2) in accordance with the IARC. Found out that in CA, the MPC system regulates pollution with a small part of carcinogenic substances (52) - 20%.
Selected only from the list received were those substances for which the USA EPA was made Quantitative Estimate of Carcinogenic Risk from Inhalation Exposure and in the IRIS database (EPA) shows the numerical value of Inhalation Unit Risk . For these substances, the risk was calculated and compared with one ten-thousandth (10-4) - the carcinogenic substances generally accepted maximum acceptable risk level for inhalation exposure. There were 22 such substances in the regulations of all countries.
Risk assessments at the MAC level for 22 substances show that countries differ in compliance with modern requirements. For Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, 70-80% of the considered carcinogenic substances dont provide an acceptable risk, in Uzbekistan only 40% of such substances (thanks to the introduction of average annual); While in other standards establish only maximum one-time and average daily MPCs.
For substances common in CA — Trichloroethylene nitrobenzene, dichloroethane ( is 100 times greater ), cadmium, carbon tetrachloride - MPCs do not provide an acceptable risk in all countries.
Based on the risks of 22 substances, we can conclude that the best compliance with acceptable risks is shown by Uzbekistani - out of 9 non-conforming substances, two have risks at the MPC level higher than acceptable 10 times and one - approximately 100 times. This is clearly a consequence of the establishment of average annual MPCs.
The other 3 - have less synchronized regulation - the increased risk corresponds to 15-18 substances, while for 4-5 it exceeds the acceptable level by more 100 times.
Recommended to bring all MPCs of carcinogenic substances into line with risk and- introduce average annual concentrations.
| Contact Geneva Health Forum | I would like to receive information about the GHF 2024 conference and other GHF activities / Je souhaite recevoir des informations sur la conférence GHF 2024 et d'autres activités du GHF. |
|---|
