Eco-meteorological aspects of the changes in the air quality the city of Saransk for years from 2000 to 2010

The article covers the problem of air quality of the city of Saransk in the first decade of the 20th century. Control over the air quality of Saransk is carried out on 4 stationary posts. The specific impurities were monitored include mercury, formaldehyde, benzo(a)pyrene, heavy metals, soluble sulfids, nitric oxide. Air pollution was measured by the values of the mean and maximum single concentration of impurities. The degree of contamination is estimated by comparison between the actual concentration with maximum permissible concentrations (MPC). Monitoring studies include the determination of the content of suspended solids in the air, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, mercury, benzo(a)pyrene and heavy metals. In the article the authors have analyzed the dynamics of major pollutants, the role of meteorological factors in measurement of the level of air pollution. Extent of contamination is primarily related to the capacity of the emission duration of "residence" of pollutants in the atmosphere and peculiarities of movement of air currents that determine the processes of dispersion, removal or accumulation of these impurities in the atmosphere. The urban environment has a significant impact on these processes. In particular, the height of buildings, the layout of streets, placing of forest parks and water features contribute to the formation of special microclimatic conditions, which affect the dispersion and concentration of pollutants. It is pointed out that the poor air quality in the city was formed mainly due to the high content of benzo(a)pyrene and formaldehyde. Average concentration from the year 2000 to 2010 remained practically at the same level and were below the MPC. The maximum values for the same period were higher than the MPC and only in 2010 have become slightly lower than the MPC. The general trend of the maximum values can be defined as lowering. It was noted that the quality of the atmosphere in Saransk remains unsatisfactory, although the research have observed slight reduction of pollutants for the period under review.