Risks assessment to the health of the population in the area of emissions pollutants influence of carbon graphite production enterprises
Authors: Ivanenko Olena , Panov Evgen , Vahin Andrii , Tereshchenko Oksana , Dovholap Serhii 
Published: July 2024

Risk assessment of the impact of the enterprise's activities on the environment includes risk assessment of the impact of the activity on the health of the population. Risk as the probability of undesirable events is an integral component of any person's life. Risk characterization integrates data on the danger of the analyzed chemical substances, the amount of exposure, parameters of "dose-response" dependence, with the aim of quantitative and qualitative assessment of risk, identification and assessment of the comparative significance of existing problems for the health of the population.
In scientific terms, hazard identification is the process of establishing a causal relationship between the action of a chemical substance and the development of adverse effects on human health. The main goal of the hazard identification stage is the selection of priority, indicator chemical substances, the study of which allows to reliably characterize the sources of occurrence and the level of risk of public health impairment.
Assessment of dose-response relationships is a process of quantitative characterization of toxicological information and establishment of a relationship between the likely influencing dose (concentration) of a pollutant and the incidence of adverse events in the exposed population. Characteristics of "dose-response" dependence, which are most often used to assess carcinogenic risk, have been sufficiently studied in epidemiological studies. Among them is the factor of carcinogenic potential (ICS), which reflects the probability of the development of a harmful reaction when the dose (concentration) increases by 1 mg/kg or 1 mg/m3 per exposure level, associated with a certain probability of effect (the indicators of this group are used for establishment of reference, i.e., reference doses and concentrations). The individual carcinogenic risk characterizes the upper limit of possible carcinogenic risk during the period corresponding to the average life expectancy of a person (70 years). Today, in the world, the classification and assessment of the acceptable risk to the health of the population caused by the chemical influence of chemical substances that pollute the environment is quite wide. the system of acceptance criteria recommended by WHO is used.
In accordance with these criteria, the first range of risk (individual lifetime risk equal to or less than 1·10-6, which also corresponds to an additional case of serious illness or death per 1 million exposed persons) characterizes such levels of risk as are perceived by all strata population as quite small, which do not differ from ordinary everyday risks (De minimas level). Such risks do not require additional measures to reduce them and their levels are subject to periodic control. The second range (greater than 1·10-6 and less than 1·10-4) corresponds to the zone of conditionally accepted (acceptable) risk. It is at this level that most of the foreign and recommended by international organizations hygienic standards for the population as a whole are established. Levels of suitable risk belong to constant control. The third range (greater than 1·10-4 and less than 1·10-3) is suitable for professionals and unsuitable for the general population. The emergence of such a level of risk requires the development and implementation of planned health measures. The fourth range (equal to or greater than 1·10-3) is unsuitable neither for the population nor for professionals. This range is designated as De manifestis Risk, and when it is reached, it is necessary to carry out emergency health measures to reduce the risk on the part of the city authorities.
During the assessment of the risk to the health of the population of Zaporizhzhia from the emissions of PJSC "Ukrgrafit", priority pollutants were identified: carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, substances in the form of suspended solid particles of undifferentiated composition. Hazard indices were determined for individual HQ substances (non-carcinogenic risks) and in the case of combined exposure to HI, individual carcinogenic risks (ICR) and combined exposure (CRa) were calculated. Assessment of long-term effects (at the level of average annual concentration) on human health of the investigated substances. allowing to assess the chronic inhalation effect of the occurrence of negative effects in the health of the exposed population during the lifetime for the assessment and characterization of multistage risk showed that the hazard indices (HQ) do not exceed the norms.