Prioritizing Environmental Activities in Nizhnii Tagil Based on the Assessment of Human Health Risks Due to Air Contamination

Abstract

The Nizhnii Tagil Environmental Management project is a multi-component project designed to demonstrate new methods of environmental management and decision-making for local governments in the Russian Federation. The project is overseen by a joint Russian-American Steering Committee. In accordance with the Russian-American cooperation program, the Priority Setting Committee (a local public committee enacted directs environmental planning and priority-setting activities by a decree of the city Major). Local scientists as well as the general public (95% of polls) believe that ambient air pollution is the main factor affecting the health of Nizhnii Tagil residents. Therefore, both scientific and public opinion support the Project activities for environmental improvement. The priority-setting activity consists of the following phases:

• 1 Collect data on pollution sources

• 2 Rank specific contaminants based on their potencies

• 3 Identify cancer and non-cancer effects of the top chemicals of concern

• 4 Rank the pollution sources according to their impact on human health

• 5 Develop and implement low cost environmental activities that produce the maximal environmental health benefit.