Pollution of urbanized territories by motor transport using the example of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alani

¹ North Ossetian State University after K.L. Khetagurov, 362025, Vatutina Street, 44–46, Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia - Alania, Russian Federation
² Geophysical Institute, Vladikavkaz Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 362002, Markova Street, 93a, Vladikavkaz, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: cgi_ras@mail.ru

Abstract

According to numerous studies, even with a relatively low level of exposure to adverse environmental factors, risk of health deterioration may occur. Both the amount of harmful emissions and their chemical composition directly affect the level of air pollution. The article considers the issues of environmental pollution of an urbanized area by automobile exhausts. The most polluted city is Vladikavkaz that is the capital of the Republic. There the main stationary sources of pollution are located and the largest number of vehicles is concentrated. The dynamics of increasing the number of vehicles in the city of Vladikavkaz over the past 10 years and a corresponding increase in harmful emissions from combustion products are shown. For the same period of time, the amount of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere from stationary sources has been considered in order to compare their contribution to total pollution compared to road transport. Based on the explorations, it is shown that the main source of pollution in terms of emissions in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania is road transport. The number of vehicles is increasing year after year, amid a decrease in total emissions of pollutants from stationary sources.