Hygienic evaluation of environmental factors and public health in the Cosmodrome Vostochny

Introduction. The problem of using highly toxic components of rocket fuel remains one of the main issues in ensuring the hygienic safety of the territory affected by rocket and space activities.

Materials and methods. A hygienic assessment of environmental objects was carried out; structural and dynamic analysis of medical and demographic indicators, and morbidity in the population of the city of Tsiolkovsky.

Results. The sources of emissions into the atmospheric air during the operation phase of the cosmodrome are the launch complex of the launch vehicle, the technical complex and the complex for the production and storage of rocket fuel components. Regular operation of the Cosmodrome Vostochny is not accompanied by the release of asymmetric dimethylhydrazine and its transformation products into the environment. Classifying facilities for the preparation and execution of space flights as objects of extremely high risk is associated with a potential risk to the health in the city’s population, which may arise from combined multi-environment exposure to chemicals of hazard classes 1 and 2, including rocket fuel components.

The prevalence in the age structure of the population of the city of Tsiolkovsky younger than working age indicates a progressive structure of the population, both due to reproduction and the influx of labour. Primary and general morbidity in children and adolescents is characterized by higher levels compared to the morbidity in adults.

Limitations. A number of uncertainties associated with incomplete information about all possible contaminants of environmental objects, as well as a low level of sensitivity of the analytical methods used compared to reference concentrations, which can lead to an overestimation of possible exposure.

Conclusion. In the context of the further development of space infrastructure and the creation of new rocket systems at the Cosmodrome Vostochny, ensuring safe living conditions for the city’s population implies the continuation and improvement of work to monitor the state of the environment, potential sources of its anthropogenic pollution, as well as assessing and predicting the health of the population.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require submission of the opinion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution:
Polyakov A.D., Kombarova M.Y., Radilov A.S., Alikbaeva L.A., Iakubova I.Sh., Suvorova A.V., Khurtsilava O.G. — study concept and design, editing; responsibility for the integrity of all parts;
Polyakov A.D. — material collection and data processing, text writing, review of publications on the topic of the article.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study was conducted within the framework of the Federal Target Program “Development of cosmodromes for the period 2017-2025 in support of space activities of the Russian Federation”.

Received: July 17, 2023 / Accepted: September 26, 2023 / Published: November 20, 2023