The influence of atmospheric air pollution with formaldehyde on the morbidity of the population of the Perm region

Meshchurova Tatiana Alexandrovna

The constant impact of polluted air on the health of the population eventually manifests itself in an increase in morbidity and even mortality. Children are a more sensitive group of the population to adverse environmental factors. For several years, in the atmospheric air of the territories of a number of cities of the Perm Region, excess of the maximum permissible concentrations of harmful substances were recorded: formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, phenol and other dangerous components. The problem of air pollution with formaldehyde is relevant for many cities of the Russian Federation. In the Perm Region, in recent years, in the structure of the newly detected morbidity, there has been an increase in indicators for respiratory diseases among children and adults, and for diseases of the circulatory system in adults. The aim of this study was to study the effect of formaldehyde pollution in the atmospheric air on the incidence of respiratory and circulatory diseases in the Perm Region. Data on the nature of atmospheric air pollution with formaldehyde are taken from the annual reports on the state and environmental protection of the Perm Region. The indicators of the first identified respiratory diseases of children and adults (2006–2018), the incidence of the circulatory system (adults for 2010–2018) were used from the materials of reports on the state of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population in the Perm Region. It was found that the amount of formaldehyde emissions tends to increase. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was found that there is a correlation between an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in children and adults, the circulatory system of adults and an increase in the pollution of atmospheric air with formaldehyde. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained between formaldehyde emissions and indicators of respiratory diseases in children (r=0.92 – high correlation), adults (r=0.60 – average correlation) and diseases of the circulatory system in adults (r=0.86 – high correlation). The study is important for the implementation of improving the effectiveness of environmental protection measures and the implementation of preventive measures to protect the health of the population in order to improve the quality of life.

Keywords:atmospheric air pollution; emissions; formaldehyde; Perm region; respiratory and circulatory diseases.