Assessment of aerogenic risks for people living in close proximity to Ulba metallurgical plant

In this study, our aim was to assess public health risks caused by ambient air pollution in close proximity to production facilities of “Ulba Metallurgical Plant” JSC (JSC “UMP”) located in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. The study relied on the health risk assessment methodology under exposure to chemical environmental factors. Our research objects were chemical pollution in ambient air in close proximity to production facilities of “Ulba Metallurgical Plant” JSC and its effects on public health. We assessed public health risks caused by chemical pollution in ambient air in close proximity to production facilities of JSC “UMP”. The assessment relied on data obtained at monitoring posts of RSE “Kazhydromet” between 2018 and 2021. We identified six carcinogens in the analyzed area that created unacceptable public health risks. High non-carcinogenic risks were typically caused by exposure to particulate matter (dust), РМ2.5 and РМ10, sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid. Our assessment of non-accidental mortality risks caused by exposure to РМ2.5 in ambient air established unacceptable relative risks (RR: 1.27-1.78), individual risks of non-accidental (1.5-2.1·10-3) and cardiopulmonary mortality (between 8.3·10-4 and 1.0·10-3). Unfavorable meteorological factors and geographic location can promote high levels of ambient air pollution and created aerogenic health risks for people living in the analyzed industrial area. The established risks require developing and implementing scheduled health-improving activities aimed at raising quality of the environment.