Environmental monitoring of Lake Baikal

Atmosphere

Assessment of air contamination is given according to the data of FSBI «According to the data of FSBI Irkutsk weather control and environmental monitoring service»

Air contamination in cities and villages of BNA CEA (according to the data of IUGMS)
Table 1.6.1
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Air contamination in cities and villages of BNA CEA (according to the data of IUGMS)





Air contamination in atmospheric effect
Table 1.6.2
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Air contamination in atmospheric effect





State of Air Pollution in Central Ecological Areas (CEA) of Baikal Natural Territory (BNT)

Air pollution in BPT cities and towns is caused by man-made factors, natural processes, forest fires, as well as regional transfer of pollutants.

Data on air pollution in BNT CEZ cities and villages as well as in the cities of the ecological atmospheric influence area, according to the summary data of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, is shown in Tables 1 and 2, as well as in the diagrams below.

In 2012, no extremely high and high level of pollution was recorded in the territory of the BNT CEZ. The level of air pollution in Baikalsk, Slyudyanka, Listvyanka and Kultuk was assessed as low as in previous years.

Average annual concentrations of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide, chlorine in the air of CEZ towns did not exceed the MAC. Average annual concentration of benzopyrene exceeded the sanitary standard by 1.6 times in Baikalsk.

Compared with 2010, air pollution increased approximately 2-fold in Listvyanka and Kultuk, no significant changes have occurred in Slyudyanka and Baikalsk.



The state of air pollution in Ecological Atmospheric Influence Areas (EAIA) of Baikal Natural Territory (BNT)

In 2013, no extremely high level of air pollution was recorded. In terms of composite air impurity index, the level of pollution was estimated to be very high in Irkutsk, high in Cheremkhov, Shelekhov, Usolye-Sibirskoye and rather high in Angarsk. Substances causing high air pollution in these cities are: benzopyrene, formaldehyde, suspended matters, nitrogen dioxide and, in Shelekhove - additionally hydrogen fluoride.

Average annual concentrations of benzopyrene in all EAIA cities exceeded the permissible level by 2.2-2.8 times in 2012. The sanitary standards of average annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were exceeded by 1.2-2.0 times in Irkutsk, Cheremkhovo, Shelekhov; of formaldehyde - by 3.3-4.3 times in Irkutsk, Usolye-Sibirskoye, Shelekhov; suspended matters - by 1.2-1.4 times in Irkutsk, Shelekhov; of hydrogen fluoride - by 1.2 times in Shelekhov.

The maximum monthly average concentration of benzopyrene exceeded the MAC in all EAIA cities and reached 4.8-7.0 MAC (maximum - in Shelekhov). Maximum one-time concentrations of nitrogen dioxide exceeded the MAC by 1.1-2.7 times; of carbon monoxide - by 2.2-3.0 (1.8 - 3.6); of suspended matters by 1.6-2.2 times; of formaldehyde by 1.7-2.1 times in Irkutsk, Angarsk, Usolye-Sibirskoye, Cheremkhovo, Shelekhov. In addition, the maximum one-time concentration of carbon soot reached 1.3 MAC in Irkutsk; of ammonia by 1.5 times - in Angarsk; of hydrogen fluoride - by 2.4 MAC in Shelekhov; of soluble solid fluorides by 1.7 times - in Shelekhov; by hydrogen chloride by 1.3 times - in Usolye-Sibirskoye.

In 2012, the level of air pollution has not changed compared to the previous year in Angarsk, increased by 31% in Cheremkhovo, by 13% in Shelekhov, decreased by 15% in Irkutsk and by 9% in Usolye-Sibirskoye. Compared with 2010, the level of pollution decreased in Irkutsk, Angarsk and Usolye-Sibirskoye and increased in Cheremkhovo and Shelekhov.




Projected Change in the Condition of Air in BNT

The level of air pollution in EAIA will increase, primarily in Shelekhov in the course of socio-economic development of the area (as has already happened in 2010-2012). The level of pollution may decrease with a further decline in production in Cheremkhovo and Usolye-Sibirskoye. The level of air pollution will remain stable as production development is limited in CEA in the coming years. The situation will improve in Baikalsk in connection with the closure of the Baikal Cellulose Paper Plant.



Baikalsk City



Slyudyanka CityKultuk Settlement



Irkutsk CityAngarsk City



Usolye-Sibirskoye CityCheremkhovo City



Shelekhov City

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