THE ANALYSIS OF AIR POLLUTION BY VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN THE ROADSIDE SPACE OF ASTANA CITY

The main ecological problem in each city is the atmospheric pollution and traffic noise. Since 1998 the city, after the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty to Astana, begun to grow rapidly. New buildings, entertainment and cultural centers are being built; the number of vehicles increases. Exhaust gases accumulate in the surface layer of the atmosphere, representing risk to human health. Currently, studies of roadside pollution in Astana are limited to heavy metals. While the need to consider other pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (about 150 priority pollutants), is becoming more popular. The aim of thesis is the identification and quantification of major volatile organic exhaust substances in the atmosphere of the city. Identification of contaminants in the air samples was carried out by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Concentrations of substances increased in direct proportion to the intensity of vehicular traffic. The highest concentration of identified volatile organic compounds observed in central city areas. The received data analysis is the scientific basis for the practical recommendations in assortment of green spaces, resistant to exposure to toxic components of traffic fumes. Improvement of the capital air space will benefit the biomedical dimension of sustainable development.

atmospheric air, vehicles, volatile organic compounds (VOC), gas chromatography (GC), traffic fumes, internal combustion engines