Environmental safety of residential and public areas in the context of PM2.5, PM10 monitoring on the leaves of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca)

Introduction. Fine dust puts human health at risk in populated areas. The research is focused on dust particles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential area of the Central Akhtuba district of the Volgograd region (the area of single family houses and low rise townhouses) and in the public area (the area of public amenities) located in close proximity to construction and development enterprises, machine builders, etc. as compared to the dispersion composition of dust on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the territory occupied by rural housing communities in the conditionally clean zone (the benchmark zone) in absence of any man-induced loadings coming from industrial facilities (Oroshenets gardeners’ non-commercial partnership, Volgograd, Soviet district). The goal of the research is to study the dispersion composition of dust and to identify fine dust PM2.5 and PM10 using plant monitoring systems in the residential area. The objectives include the sampling of dust particles from plant leaves, dust analysis, and identification of areas exposed to ecological risks. Materials and methods. The leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca), growing in residential and public areas of the Central Akhtuba district of the Volgograd region and in the territory of Oroshenets gardeners’ non-commercial partnership, Volgograd, Soviet district (the conditionally clean benchmark zone) represent the study material. Methods of research include leaf wash into the beaker full of distilled water, suspension filtration using AFA-VP analytical filter, filtrate production and natural drying at the temperature not exceeding 30–40 °C, and placement of the dried filtrate on the slide of an optical microscope. The distribution of dust particles was performed pursuant to State Standard of Russia 56929-2016. Results. The co-authors have identified the zones exposed to ecological risks in residential and public areas of the Central Akhtuba district of the Volgograd region (Bolnichnaya st., residential houses in Nechayeva, Omskaya streets, a kindergarten in Kavkazskaya st.: PM2.5, PM10) and safe residential areas (a boarding school in Vorovskogo st.: PM10 — 20 μm and 20–40 μm). Conclusions. Further studies of residential and public areas of the Central Akhtuba district of the Volgograd region are to be performed to identify the chemical composition of dust particles and the source of fine dust polluting the air and to develop a roadmap of environmental actions.