Center of Physical-chemical Methods of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Research and Analysis
Air quality in the cities of Kazakhstan. Health effects of air pollution.
UNECE/UNEP - First regional webinar on “Health-relevant air quality data informing policy and the public”
Aiymgul Kerimray, PhD
December 16th, 2020
1 Presentation plan
• Air quality in the cities of Kazakhstan • Health effects due to air pollution in Kazakhstan • Air quality monitoring system • Air quality standards • Air quality data in the statistics • Conclusions, recommendations
2 Air quality in the cities of Kazakhstan Average concentration of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) in the cities of Kazakhstan 2017-2019, Kazhydromet, µg m-3
Exceedance of WHO standards in 18 out of 21 selected cities of Kazakhstan
3 Kerimray et al (2020). Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2020.1813837 Air quality in the cities of Kazakhstan Average NO2 concentration in cities of Kazakhstan 2017-2019, Kazhydromet, µg m-3
Exceedance of WHO standards in 8 out of 21 selected cities of Kazakhstan
4 Kerimray et al (2020). Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2020.1813837 Air quality in the cities of Kazakhstan Average concentration of SO2 in cities of Kazakhstan 2017-2019, Kazhydromet, µg m-3
5 Kerimray et al (2020). Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2020.1813837 Air quality level is worsening? Exceedance of WHO and EU standards Nur-Sultan
Almaty
6 Informing population during heavy pollution levels
Sometimes AQI index (EPA) is “Hazardous” level. In some countries this would mean emergency situation
Methodology for announcement of emergency levels is too bureaucratic and complex
7 Mortality statistics
Deaths per 1000 people, 2018 14.0 11.8 12.0 10.3 10.0 9.7 10.1 9.8 10.0 8.5 8.0 6.4 6.6 6.4 6.4 5.7 6.0 5.5 4.5 5.0 4.0 4.0 2.0 0.0
• Large differences in mortality by regions of KZ • Requires further study
Committee on Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Demographic Yearbook 8 Health effects due to air pollution Mortality rate due to exposure to PM2.5
We estimated a total of 8134 adult deaths per year attributable to PM2.5 (average over 2015-2017) in the selected 21 cities of Kazakhstan.
The leading causes of death were: • ischemic heart disease (4080) • stroke (1613) • lower respiratory infections (662) • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (434) • lung cancer (332).
The per capita mortality rate attributable to ambient air pollution (per 105 adults per year) was: • less than 150 in nine cities • between 150-204 in nine cities • between 276-373 in three industrial cities (Zhezkazgan, Temirtau and Balkhash).
9 Kerimray et al (2020). Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2020.1813837 Air quality standards Maximum allowable concentration (MAC)
Pollutant One-time MAC, μg/m3 Average daily MAC, Average annual MAC, μg/m3 μg/m3 Kazakhstan WHO Kazakhstan WHO Kazakhstan WHO TSP 500 - 150 - - -
PM10 300 - 60 50 - 20 PM2.5 160 - 35 25 - 10 SO2 500 - 50 20 - - NO2 200 - 40 - - 40 Order of the Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2015.
• There are differences between Kazakhstan and WHO air quality standards.
• WHO uses daily averages and annual limit values for PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 to assess air quality. • In Kazakhstan, maximum one-time MAC values are used.
• As an example, one-time MAC for PM2.5 used in Kazakhstan is 16 times higher than the average annual WHO standard.
10 Air quality monitoring system Number of monitoring stations of Kazhydromet on Total Suspended Particles (TSP) and PM2.5 by cities of Kazakhstan in 2019
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
TSP PM2.5
• Number of air quality monitoring stations is increasing in Kazakhstan
• PM2.5 stations are still low. Measurements of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) are less informative 11 Air quality monitoring system Differences between measured concentrations of TSP and PM2.5 in 2017
80
−3 70
60
50
40 Shymkent
30 Balkhash
concentration (µg m concentration Petropavlovsk Aktobe
2.5 20 Aktau Uralsk Ekibastuz Nur-Sultan Semipalatinsk
PM Atyrau 10 Kyzylorda Almaty Pavlodar Zhezkazgan 0 Kokshetau 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 TSP concentration (µg m−3)
12 Air quality data in the statistics Statistical publication “Environmental protection and sustainable development of Kazakhstan”
Air quality index by cities of Kazakhstan Concentration of air pollutants by cities
• In the Statistical Publications air quality is compared with national standards of air quality standards (no comparison with WHO standards) • Air quality Index “IZA” used in Kazakhstan does not correspond to air quality index used in other countries
• No seasonal, monthly data. Analysis of data needs improvement 13 Air quality data in the statistics Statistical publication “Environmental protection and sustainable development of Kazakhstan”
Emissions from stationary sources, thousand tons
• Emissions of different pollutants are summed up (without accounting to the toxicity levels)
14 Conclusions and recommendations
• Exceedance of WHO standards on PM10 in 18 out of 21 selected cities of Kazakhstan • Exceedance of WHO standards on NO2 in 8 out of 21 selected cities of Kazakhstan
• A total of 8134 adult deaths per year attributable to PM2.5 (average over 2015-2017) in the selected 21 cities of Kazakhstan. • Population is not informed during severe pollution levels
• Outdated air quality standards • Methodologies for air quality monitoring and reporting needs to be revised based on the best practices • Emissions inventories and source-apportionment studies needs to be conducted
15 Thank you! [email protected]
TG: @air_quality_science
16 Sources of air pollution
Large industries in cities of Kazakhstan
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