APPROACHES TO QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION of damage from Impact OF NITROGEN OXIDES on THE HEALTH
In this article approaches to quantify the impact of nitrogen oxides on health are analysed. The mechanisms of nitrogen oxides toxicity for health on the basis of clinical and epidemiological studies are shown. Approaches to quantitative assessment of damage are analyzed and a preliminary quantitative assessment of damage caused by emissions of nitrogen oxides for the population of Belarus is made. It is shown that nitrogen oxides affect primarily the respiratory and cardiovascular system. Despite the statistically proven respiratory effects, methods of assessment of damage from direct exposure to nitrogen oxides to health has not defined. Calculations of damage from indirect effects of nitrogen oxides showed that the amount of damage to Belarus is comparable to the total cost for air protection (0.12-0.30 % GDP). Considering the resulting level of damage an economic analysis of nitrogen oxides abatement technologies should be performed.