Many factors contribute to Russia’s poor air quality leading to Russia having the third worst in the world. Information from the Russian Weather Service estimates that up to 15 to 17 percent of all premature deaths are caused by air pollution. Further deaths can be contributed carcinogens present in the air, roughly estimated to be 221,000 to 237,000 deaths per year.
Some of these issues are made worse by the lack of sufficient regulations regarding air quality. For example, in Moscow automobile ownership is on the rise and 90% of their air pollution is caused by automobiles, which produce lead, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide, yet emission testing is minimal.
Other contributors are industrial production plants, coal burning electrical plants, the gas industry and mining. Among the chemical pollutants are such things as sulfur dioxide, particulates, hydrogen sulfide, phenols, carbon monoxide, nickel, TEL (potent toxin from gas manufacturing) sarin, vx gas, copper, cobalt and selenium. In 1993 alone, 43.8 million tons of pollutants were released into the air. Nineteen million tons of it came from vehicles, and 24.8 million tons came from industry. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that Russia’s air pollution increased by 35% in 2010 alone. The reported main cause was a huge forest fire that swept through the countryside for two months (also a big contributor to deforestation).
Some of these issues are made worse by the lack of sufficient regulations regarding air quality. For example, in Moscow automobile ownership is on the rise and 90% of their air pollution is caused by automobiles, which produce lead, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide, yet emission testing is minimal.
Other contributors are industrial production plants, coal burning electrical plants, the gas industry and mining. Among the chemical pollutants are such things as sulfur dioxide, particulates, hydrogen sulfide, phenols, carbon monoxide, nickel, TEL (potent toxin from gas manufacturing) sarin, vx gas, copper, cobalt and selenium. In 1993 alone, 43.8 million tons of pollutants were released into the air. Nineteen million tons of it came from vehicles, and 24.8 million tons came from industry. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that Russia’s air pollution increased by 35% in 2010 alone. The reported main cause was a huge forest fire that swept through the countryside for two months (also a big contributor to deforestation).