The use of different technological solutions in the sphere of solid waste at risk assessments on public health

Abstract

The problem of waste management is one of the most important ecological-economic and social problems of regional development. Therefore, the article proposes methodological approaches to the assessment of the public health from environmental pollution dealing with solid waste, which includes a comprehensive inventory of pollutant emissions and exposure assessment; determination of the risk of immediate toxic effects and the risk of chronic exposure, taking into account the combined effects of pollutants on the human body; calculation of ecological risk taking into account economic damage for environmental pollution; forecast of socio-economic development of the region for various technological solutions in the field of solid waste management, depending on the level of environmental risk.

An assessment of the impact of the existing solid waste management system on the public health on the example of the Poltava region has made it possible to establish that the greatest risk to health, as well as the economic damage caused by environmental pollution, is the first scenario – the current situation. The most risky and dangerous for the public health is the construction of waste incineration plant; this scenario is unacceptable for the region. It is substantiated that the least risky and safe for the public health and the environment in the region is the construction of four waste sorting stations or two composting plants.