Pashkovska O.

Chernivtsi lyceum № 3, Ukraine

The Characteristic of the Atmosphere Aerosol Pollution Caused by Fine Particles in Chernivtsi

Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of very tiny solid and liquid particles made up of several components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Fine particles (PM 2.5) are found in smoke and haze and are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller. Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion — motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes. Fine particles cause serious health problems such as heart disease, lung cancer and asthma attacks as they can get deep into the lungs – some may even get into the bloodstream [1].

Particle exposure can lead to a variety of health effects. For example, numerous studies link particle levels to increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits and even to death from heart or lung diseases.  Results from a study published in July 2013 in the journal Environmental Research Letters and entitled “”Global premature mortality due to anthropogenic outdoor air pollution and the contribution of past climate change” indicate that 2.1 million deaths occur worldwide each year as a direct result of exposure to fine particles. Of the estimated 2.1 million deaths occurring worldwide each year as a direct result of exposure to fine particles, 93% are caused by cardiopulmonary diseases and 7% by lung cancer [2, 3]. Results from the study also indicate that climate change has a minimal effect on current deaths related to air pollution. Co-author of the study, Jason West, from the University of North Carolina, said: “Our estimates make outdoor air pollution among the most important environmental risk factors for health. Many of these deaths are estimated to occur in East Asia and South Asia, where population is high and air pollution is severe.”

The aim of work was to evaluate the stage of the atmosphere aerosol pollution by micron and submicron particles in Chernivtsi.

The monitoring of the level of micron and submicron particles in the air over various areas of Chernivtsi (depending on the extent of techno-genic pollution) has been performed by means of the portable laser meter Met One GT-321. There was done evaluation of the disperse constitution of the atmosphere aerosol pollution in Chernivtsi. There was analyzed atmosphere of 4 categories of town areas depending on the stage of technogene loading: №1 – conditionally clear or control; №2 – areas near streets with moderate traffic; №3 – areas near intensive traffic; №4 – areas near industrial enterprises. There was registered particles size 0,3, 0,5, 1,0, 2,0 and 5,0 mcm. The measurement conducted in zones up to 25 m from traffic way and industrial enterprise two times per week during one month from 15.00 to 17.00 with further calculation average month indices.

The investigation results showed that among micron particles predominated particles size 1 mcm. The last predominated the number of particles size 2 mcm in 2 times and size 5 mcm - in 26 times.

The number of particles size 5 mcm increased with enlargement of technogene loading. This index statistically predominated the correspondent index in control on 33% in areas with moderate traffic, with intensive traffic – in 1,9 times (on 41% concerning areas with moderate traffic) and near industrial enterprises – in 2,1 times correspondently. There was registered increase of differences of particles amount among groups of comparison with decrease sizes of particles to 1-2 mcm.

The number of particles size 2 mcm and 1 mcm was the highest near areas with intensive traffic with increase of control indices in 4,3 and 2,8 times, with moderate traffic – in 2,4 and 2 times, near industrial enterprises – in 3,8 and 2,4 times correspondently.

Among submicron particles of the atmosphere of Chernivtsi predominated particles size 0,1-0,2 mcm, the number of last predominated the amount of particles size 0,3 mcm in 1,6 times and 0,5 mcm – in 4,1 times. The amount of particles size 0,5 mcm on areas near moderate traffic reliably predominated correspondent data for conditionally clear areas in 1,6 times, with intensive traffic - in 2,9 times (in 1,9 times - concerning index of area with moderate traffic) and near industrial enterprises – in 1,8 times. The same tendencies were established for particles size 0,3 mcm, the number of last on areas with moderate traffic predominated control index in 1,8 time, with intensive traffic - in 2,8 times and near industrial enterprises – in 1,8 time correspondently.

Thus the level of atmosphere aerosol pollution by micron and submicron particles increases on areas near traffic ways and industrial enterprises and is the highest on areas with intensive traffic.

There should be noticed that owing to large surface and high adsorbed ability fine and ultrafine particles can be carriers of other toxic substances [4]. Thus parameters of amount of these particles are integral indices of atmosphere pollution by harmful substances.

References:

1. Lepeule J. Chronic exposure to fine particles and mortality: an extended follow-up of the Harvard six cities study from 1974 to 2009 / J. Lepeule, F. Laden, D. Dockery [et al.] // J. Environ. Health Perspect. – 2012. – № 120. – P. 965 – 970.

2. Silva A.R. Global premature mortality due to anthropogenic outdoor air pollution and the contribution of past climate change / R.A. Silva, J. Jason West, Y. Zhang1 [et al.] //Environ. Res. Lett. – 2013. – Vol. 8, №3. – Режим доступу до журн.: http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/8/3/034005/article

3. Lepeule J. Chronic exposure to fine particles and mortality: an extended follow-up of the Harvard six cities study from 1974 to 2009 / J. Lepeule, F. Laden, D. Dockery [et al.] // J. Environ. Health Perspect. – 2012. – № 120. – P.965 – 970.

4. 20. Kahru A. From ecotoxicology to nanoecotoxicology / A. Kahru, H.C. Dubourguier. – Toxicology. – 2010. – Vol. 269, № 2 – 3. – P. 105 – 119.