Ocbober 29, 2022
by Tsira Gvasalia
The increase in new cases of respiratory diseases is correlated with the increase of concentrations of particulate matter – PM2.5 and PM10 in the ambient air in Rustavi.
The Aim of the Research
The research aimed to find a correlation between the increase in new respiratory disease cases under increased concentrations of particulate matter – PM2.5 and PM10 in the ambient air in Rustavi.
Research Finding
As a result of statistical comparison, the research found a direct link between the increased concentrations of particulate matter – PM2.5 and PM10 in the ambient air of Rustavi and the increase in new respiratory disease cases.
The correlation chart. The statistics were processed by SPSS 21. Correlation coefficients were compiled according to the Kendall and Spearman methods. Reliable correlations are highlighted. The correlation reliability coefficient is given below the corresponding figure.
Comparing the data found, that when there is a high concentration of particulate matter in the air, there is a high rate of disease.
Interpretation
The findings of the given research create a solid basis to draw up the hypothesis: the increased number of diseases might closely be related to the existence of particulate matter in high concentrations in the ambient air.
However, for more cogent evidence to reinforce the abovementioned statement, it is necessary to conduct further researches.
Air pollution may not be the only reason, inducing the new disease cases. Hence, separate research is necessary to find other triggers.
Data Sources and Calculation Methods
In the framework of the research, types of respiratory diseases were compared to the data of two air pollutants. We have taken the daily air pollution data and calculated the monthly average, using the arithmetic mean; which was compared to the monthly data of diseases existence, provided by the National Center for Disease Control.
Air pollution data was taken from the air quality portal – air.gov.ge. The portal reflects the data, provided by the automatic background monitoring station, located on Batumi street N19, in Rustavi.
The station measures concentrations of in total six pollutants. For the research, we used the data of two types of pollutants – PM2.5 and PM10.
Quality of the Data to Measure Air Pollution
According to the data, received from the air quality monitoring station, which is located only at one spot in the city and provides the background pollution data (is not located near the main sources of pollution), the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 exceed the maximum permissible emission norms almost every day. This is the reason, we chose these two pollutants as research objects.
Quality of the Data of Respiratory Diseases
We requested statistical information about respiratory diseases from the National Center for Disease Control. The primary goal for better perception was to analyze the 10-year data of disease tendencies in regard to air pollution.
However, from 2012 to 2019 the Center used an outdated method for data collection, with this method, people were not registered with their ID number, for instance, if a person applied to the five different clinics his/her date would be included in calculation five times, hence this method could not provide the correct data.
The Center updated the data collection method from 2020 year in compliance with World Health Organization standards and is now using the ID number to register new cases. Accordingly, in our study, we only used verified data from 2020-2021 years and raw data until August 2022.
Classification of Respiratory Diseases
The National Center for Disease Control provided types of respiratory diseases, as requested, including disease codes and names.
The research includes data of the following diseases: Respiratory diseases [code J00-J99], flu and pneumonia[code J09-J18], acute infections of the lower respiratory tract [code J20-J22], other diseases of the upper respiratory tract [code J30 -J39], chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract [code J40 – J47], lung diseases, caused by external factors [code J60-J70], other diseases of the respiratory system, that mainly harms the interstitium [code J80-J84], other diseases of pleura [code J90-J94] and other diseases of the respiratory system [code J95-J99].
The Limitations of the Research
The research limitations are mainly caused by the ineffectiveness of state data collection methods: with the lack of frequency, quality, reliability and location.
The limitations of the study are the result of the data collection systems, used by the state agencies – the National Environmental Agency and the National Center for Disease Control.
Despite these limitations, we decided to conduct research, to show the correlation based on the existing data.
For further clarification, the finding of the research requires future rigorous studies, with more sophisticated designs, narrow and specific objectives and other necessary components to obtain more or less acceptable scientific accuracy.
Main Pollution Sources in Rustavi
According to the “2020-2022 Action Plan on Improvement Ambient Air Quality in Rustavi”, published on the website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, there are 50 sources of emissions in Rustavi – 47 of them are located on “old Rustavi” and 3 of them – in “new Rustavi”.
Most of them are metallurgical, chemical, mineral and other industrial objects.
In 2019, the number of particulate matter, emitted from these enterprises amounted to more than 14 000 tons. And the largest polluters are responsible for 97% of these emissions.
With the involvement of the civil movement “Gavigudet” several steps were taken forward in regard of air quality improvement. For instance, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a number of legislative amendments, aiming the reequipment of industrial objects and introducing stricter sanctions for polluting the ambient air.
Recommendations
The data collection system needs to be improved.
With the existing conditions, when only the data of 2,5 years is received with an acceptable method and the data of previous years are not reliable and comparable with the last 2,5 years, is not sufficient to have the perfect picture of the tendencies.
The data of air quality as well as the data of health conditions should be collected and processed with more sophisticated tools and should reflect the best available practice, therefore investing and budget allocation should be the state priority in this regard.
Why it is Important to Study the Chemical Composition of Particulate Matter?
According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, only two types of particulate matter are measured at a national level, these are PM2.5 and PM10.
At a scientific level, smaller nanoparticles are also being studied, however, due to a lack of appropriate standards and measurement tools their concentrations in the ambient air are not measured at a national level.
Chemist Giorgi Djibouti says: “the smaller the particle, the more harmful it is, as it is capable to intrude deep in the lungs”.
Environmental and Health Policy in Rustavi
The head of the Public Health Center in Rustavi, David Ishkhneli, has been in this position for nine months. This Center is implementing programs, funded by the NCDC, in the Kvemo Kartli region.
According to Ishkhneli, when he took over, there was no specific plan for Rustavi for improving environmental and health problems.
Ishkhneli says, that he put together a group of young people, competent in these fields, who will work on these issues as interns and cooperate with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, as well as with the polluting enterprises and even control their activity.
In regard to funding this project, Ishhneli depends on Rustavi City Hall, consequently, the idea will be implemented only with the financial support of Rustavi City Hall. According to Ishkhneli, he met the Mayor of Rustavi several times, who is ‘willing’ to improve the air quality in the city.
Ishkhneli says: “the air quality is not satisfactory for me, and I do not like the attitude of the heads of the enterprises as well. They would rather pay the fine than implement the requirements”.
Installing a continuous self-monitoring system is obligatory since June 1, 2021; and having a filtration system was obligatory even long before. However, the issue gets more attention after the activism of the civil movement “gavigudet” and civilians (author’s remark).
Ishkhneli thinks, that one monitoring station for Rustavi is not enough.
He says: “I am not an environmental specialist, however, for a better picture, the monitoring stations should be located at least at four spots in the city.”
“Gavigudet” has filed a lawsuit in Tbilisi City Court against the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Supervision, demanding compensation – 3 000 GEL for each plaintiff as a reimbursement of the moral damage to health caused by the inaction of the abovementioned authorities.
The second demand refers to the Department of Environmental Supervision to work more efficiently and ensure that companies install filtration and self-monitoring systems.
“We, of course, have no illusions, that the trial will end in a few months. At this stage, we try our best to defend our right to clean air with solid proofs and argumentation,” – says Tinatin Maghedani, the activist of “Gavigudet” and the founder of “Eco Centre”.
♦
The article was prepared by “Cactus Media” in cooperation with “Gavigudet” in the framework of USAID Civil Society Engagement Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development [USAID].
The content of this article is the sole responsibility of “Cactus Media” and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government, or EWMI.