Human health risk assessment of exposure to emissions from the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field according to calculations and monitoring data

The majorpollutants, hazardous to human health in the area influenced bythe emissions from Karachaganak Petroleum Operating BV LLP at the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field,were shown to benitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. It was found that hazard indices for the most affected critical system – the respiratory system– calculatedfor the population living near the buffer zone borders of the field, did not exceed 1.0 under both short-term and long-term exposure, suggesting an acceptable risk level. Under chronic exposure, hazard indices in different directions from the industrial area were influenced by the levels of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide by more than 50 %, the risks of acute effects being largely determined by the impact of hydrogen sulfide. The obtained data can be used in the organization of buffer zones, planning ofenvironmental protection measures, includingthe monitoring ofambient air quality by the production facilities themselves, in the area influenced by their emissions.