Spatial factor of damages from urban air pollution
<b>Importance</b> It is still important and vital for national interests and environmental security if the spatial factor of urban air pollution damage is properly assessed. <br></br> <b>Objectives </b>I substantiate my vision of the spatial factor and its role in causing damage. My vision is based on the need to consider the uneven dispersion of pollutants and the effect of overlapping contamination cloud from separate emission sources. <br></br> <b>Methods</b> I apply a system approach, methods of comparative and logic analysis of cause-and-effect relationships within the scheme emission source → dispersion of pollutants → contamination zone → damage<i>.</i> <br></br> <b>Results</b> I study the substance and specifics of the spatial factor effect resulting in environmental and economic damage from a negative impact emission sources have on air. To specify the concept and signs of the active contamination zone with the heavily uneven dispersion of pollutants, I analyze available points of view and methods for detriment assessment, substantiate the need to adjust the criterion σ<sub>ZAZ</sub>, propose indicators measuring the overlapping coefficient and density of active contamination zone. The new approach is aimed to find local areas of the highest possible air pollution. <br></br> <b>Conclusions and Relevance</b> In large industrially developed cities, powerful emission sources aggravate the total contamination as pollutants unevenly disperse and have a cumulative effect, which needs to be considered for damage assessment purposes. Optimization of σ<sub>ZAZ</sub> required to identify those air zones which are highly likely to be exposed to long-standing air pollution. The practical significance of the proposed algorithm is that it expands practical tools for technological risk management.