ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL RISK AND DAMAGE TO POPULATION HEALTH FROM WATER AND FOOD CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION

This paper examines the possibility of adapting known methods of risk assessment and calculation of potential damage to various groups of Russian population from consuming drinking water and food containing different types of pollutants. Parameters were considered: appearance, color, taste, smell, texture (for all samples), as well as shape, surface, type of cracks (for dry cookies), odor, aroma, color, turbidity (for bottled water); pH; the content of mineral substances (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe-gen); the content of toxic elements (As2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+); the content of chlorine-organic pesticides (DDT, alpha-, beta-,gamma-HCH, heptachlor); moisture content, carotenoids; fat content and Cl- (for canned meat); the content of dry matter, vegetable admixtures, and titrated acidity (for fruit and vegetable purees); thickness, humidity, alkalinity, acidity, water absorption, fat and ash content (for biscuits). In total, 52 quality indicators for each of the selected water samples were analyzed. According to the assessment, the significant damage to the health of the population is the consumption of meat and milk produced in the state farms of Ivanovo and the Kostroma region (16000 - 280000 dollars per year), as well as consumption of bottled water ($ 15000 to $ 24540 per year). For drinking spring water, the damage ranges from 270 to 9,200 dollars per year. The minimum damage is estimated with the use of tap water ($ 2,220-$ 2050 per year), and fruit and vegetable purees ($ 7,520 per year). The proposed methodology can be used to justify the cost of environmental protection measures as well as safety measures taken by health protection and welfare authorities.