Influence of Technogenesis and Geochemistry of Aerosols on the Status of Environment and Public Health in the South of Russia

Abstract

The results of the soil geochemistry study in the south of Russia, assessment of atmospheric pollution and the population health in some cities of Krasnodar region and Rostov Oblast are considered. During more than 30 years repeated soil sampling of different regions (more than 10 thousand samples), settlements (about 3 thousand samples) was carried out, which allowed to comprehensively assess the state of a large biosphere structure environment, where almost 20% of the Russian population lives. The increase in the level of atmospheric pollution and concentrations of chemical elements in soils was found. The negative impact of aeral pollution on the health of the population was revealed, which leads to an increase in the number of upper respiratory tract diseases. The highest degree of aerosol air pollution in the south of Russia is observed in Novorossiysk. According to the results of three-dimensional analysis, the maximum morbidity and mortality rates of newborns are found in areas with old 1–2-storey buildings, and the minimum—in areas of multi-storey buildings. It is shown that the morbidity of the population decreases as the floor of residence increases. Such distribution of morbidity indicates a high level of aerosol pollution of the atmosphere. To confirm the toxicity of urban air pollution, an ecological and geochemical assessment of the solid part of aerosols in comparison with natural deflationary aerosols has been carried out. Geochemical features of different sources of aerosols in the atmospheric surface layer were revealed. It was found that technogenic aerosols are enriched with a number of chemical elements, but especially intensively with polymetals Ag, Pb, Cu and Zn—elements that are not characteristic of the local geological situation and industrial specifics.