Assessment of reflex risks of inhalation exposure to harmful substances among the Murmansk oblast population

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the individual risks of immediate (reflex) effects of inhalation exposure to nitrogen oxide and nitrogen and sulfur dioxides among the population of the Murmansk Oblast. The study was conducted in seven cities and covered the period of October, November, and December 2021. The considered chemical compounds belong to the third hazard class. Calculations were carried out using mathematical models, linking the penetration values with the actual concentrations of pollutants in the atmospheric air and their maximum permissible one-time concentrations. A table of normal probability distribution was used to convert probits into risks. The calculated risk values were compared with the acceptable values of the maximum risks of immediate action. The acceptable value of nitrogen oxide and dioxide (0.02–0.05) was found to be exceeded in the city of Kovdor in November and December. In the city of Monchegorsk, the acceptable value of sulfur dioxide was exceeded in November.