Assessment of estimating people’s satisfaction with ambient air quality in a city participating in the ‘Clean air’ Federal project

Abstract

Introduction. People’s satisfaction with ambient air quality is a significant indicator to estimate effectiveness of activities performed by authorities when they aim to provide sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing. Still, it is hardly ever used in management practices in Russia. Methods for estimating satisfaction are multiple, rather controversial, and this might be the reason for neglecting the indicator. The aim of this study to substantiate and test the methodology for estimating people’s satisfaction with ambient air quality on a territory included into the ‘Clean Air’ Federal project. Materials and methods. The empirical base was provided by the results of an online survey accomplished in a large industrial city in Russia. The total sample included five hundred five people. The applied method was quota sampling as per age and gender. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inductive statistics. Results. People’s satisfaction with ambient air quality was measured with an integral index that considered its multidimensional essence. It turned out to be rather low. Indirect indicators of satisfaction that usually describe subjective perception of ambient air quality and its specific components cannot always provide an adequate base for making any conclusions about levels of people’s satisfaction. Limitations. The study has certain limitation associated with a territory where it has been accomplished; this territory has high anthropogenic burdens on the environment. Conclusion. The integral index of people’s satisfaction with ambient air quality has good descriptive capability and can be used to monitor subjective indicators of people’s quality of life.