| Abstract [eng] |
Air pollution remains one of the most relevant problems in these days (EEA, 2020, 9). Changes in air quality due to increased levels of harmful gases in the air can have irreversible consequences for human health and quality of life. Some airborne pollutants are toxic, so if inhaled they can increase the chance of having health problems. People with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as, the elderly, children and pregnant women, are at the highest risk as they are more exposed to air pollution. Continuos ongoing studies of air quality are carried out in the world and in Lithuania, which aim to record increased air pollution levels both due to everyday factors (transport, industrial activities, etc.) and due to extreme events (fires, explosions, etc.). The aim of the research is to assess air pollution in the city and region of Alytus in 2019 in the fire event of the tire recycling factory „Ekologistika“ using satellite data and to examine the impact of air pollution on human health. The following tasks are set in the work: 1. To validate Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite data using the data from the Environmental Protection Agency‘s mobile air pollution assessment stations; 2. To analyze and map NO2 emissions dispersion during the fire event of the tire recycling factory „Ekologistika“ in Alytus, occured in 2019, taking into account the wind direction and speed data and the distance from the accident site; 3. To do a survey of the residents of Alytus city and region about the impact of air pollution on health and awareness during the fire event of the tire recycling factory „Ekologistika“ and analize the obtained data. The results of the air pollution study revealed that the data from Sentinel-5P TROPOMI are reliable for both the daily air quality assessment and the air condition change due to the extreme events. Also, the results showed that with higher wind speeds, air pollutants disperse faster and enter areas farther from the source of pollution, and with low wind speeds, air pollutants stay closer to the source of pollution for a longer period of time. This demonstrates the influence of meteorological conditions such as wind speed and direction on the spatial distribution of air pollutants. A survey of the residents of Alytus city and district about the impact of air pollution on health and the level of awareness during the fire event of the Alytus tire recycling factory „Ekologistika“ revealed that 40% of the respondents felt a negative impact of air pollution on health. The most noticeable symptoms were eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness, shortness of breath. It was also found out that the residents of Alytus city felt and is still feeling the symptoms for a longer time. The results of the study revealed that younger people with a university degree were better informed about the event. Nevertheless, almost a quarter (24,2%) of the respondents felt poorly informed, and the analysis of the data by age group and education showed that these indicators did not have a significant effect on the level of awareness. The main reason for poor awareness is inaccurate or untimely information about the event, indicating poor communication between the authorities, the media and the residents of the Alytus city. |
