In order to get an objective assessment corresponding to the level and quality of the environment, it is necessary to conduct a differential analysis simultaneously in several areas. Among the factors that influence the results of the assessment, the fundamental components of the environmental situation: air, water, soil, food and much more.
The value of rationing in environmental protection
Environmental standards are designed to specifically limit exposure to harmful substances. As a rule, the likelihood of the appearance of many toxins and harmful trace elements on the ecology of the environment is extremely high in the process of industrial, agricultural and other production, as well as throughout the life of society.
Solving problems in the environmental sphere of the state is a fundamentally important point for the normal existence of its population.
Actively acting on the human body, harmful substances often lead to the development of pathological processes, including various complications and painful syndromes, including toxic, mutagenic, anaphylactic, malignant, embryotropic and gonadotropic in nature.
What are the environmental quality standards?
The main classification of these indicators allows us to subdivide them into the following types of environmental quality standards:
- sanitary standards;
- set of environmental standards;
- indicators in the manufacturing sector;
- temporary standards.
Each of these types of standards needs a more detailed consideration, since it is of great importance in compiling the final picture of the results.
Block of sanitary standards
Environmental quality standards include, first of all, sanitary-protective and hygienic criteria. For example, the latter imply a whole complex of important gradations that determine the level of negative components in the natural environment.
These are the
maximum permissible concentrations of harmful toxic substances in air, rivers, lakes and soils; indicators of permissible physical influence (noise, radiation, vibration, electromagnetic radiation), which neither at present nor in subsequent years will be able to affect the health of residents and their descendants.
For example, if the active substance adversely affects the state of a natural object in lower concentrations (compared with the effect on the human body), then environmental quality standards are established based on the intensity of the influence of this component on the elements of the biosphere. Higher thresholds of indicators that ensure safety only to humans are not taken into account.
Principles for the development of environmental health standards
If we again talk about hygiene indicators, then we are talking primarily about toxicometric criteria. Appropriate dosages, concentrations of hazardous substances, or the effects of physical factors cause similar fixed reactions in the body.
It is not surprising that today such environmental quality standards are applied in the territory of post-Soviet states. In certain regions, under more severe environmental conditions, additional standards may be established.
Sanitary Standards
Sanitary-protective indicators of environmental quality standards have a different purpose. Their goal is to fully protect the health of the population of a particular region or geographical area.
Measures to bring
sanitary protection zones in accordance with established standards should include:
- ensuring the necessary cleanliness of water use points;
- prevention of adverse effects of polluting sources.
Standardization and environmental standards
Environmental standards of environmental quality are used to determine the limit of anthropogenic impact on the environment. If they are exceeded, there is a threat of an obstacle to the preservation of the most suitable living conditions of a person and his natural environment. It is also impossible to consider these criteria unilaterally here, since they can be environmental-hygienic and environmental-protective. In addition, the maximum permissible loads on the natural environment are of great importance.
Environmental standards - environmental quality standards, the adoption of which in terms of hygiene indicators, it is important to imply that among many bioactive organisms there are species more sensitive to pollution, compared with humans.
And if for people the established norms can be an order of magnitude higher than those that other living organisms need, then the introduction of lowered standards will be a rational solution in order to ensure full functioning of other forms of life.
Varieties of environmental regulations
Environmental-protective normative indicators are indispensable, the main direction of which is the conservation of the planet's gene pool, replenishment of ecosystems, the preservation of objects of historical, cultural and natural value. A striking example of the use of such provisions can be called the organization of biosphere protected areas, natural national parks, etc.
Other environmental criteria also apply to environmental quality standards. The maximum allowable values of the load on the natural environment set themselves the task of preventing the abnormal depletion of natural resources and damage to natural ecological ties. It is imperative to achieve appropriate planning in the use and reproduction of minerals. Such environmental quality standards are usually obtained through lengthy scientific calculations. In the process of determining the exact threshold values, it is especially important to justify the admissibility of the degree of industrial impact on a particular natural area.
Industrial and economic provisions in the regulation of environmental quality
The next block includes provisions designed to indicate the lower thresholds of indicators, the occurrence of which is allowed in the manufacturing and economic sectors. Changing the parameters for the implementation of activities in this area can be done mainly by limiting the functions of a particular enterprise, causing danger from the point of view of specialists in the field of sanitary and environmental regulation. The most common production and business standards are:
- technological standards;
- provisions calculated for recreational areas;
- norms taken into account during construction.
The first subgroup includes PDV, PDS and PDT. The maximum permissible emissions and discharges of harmful substances into the atmosphere, water bodies, as well as the amount of fuel burned are set individually for each source of pollution in the environment. Such standards are interconnected with the profile of the enterprise, the number and nature of the harmful effects.
The issue of familiarization with town-planning standards has to be addressed in the development of environmental safety and guarantee. Only in that case can the layout and development of the settlement take place.
The third group focuses on other standards. Environmental quality standards in recreational areas allow the proper use of natural complexes, leaving the conditions for the development of tourism and resort business.
What are time limits?
Temporary standards are often established in cases where for some reason it is not possible to calculate one of the above indicators. Where technological, sanitary or hygienic standards cannot be developed, resort to the creation of temporary provisions.
However, it is worth noting the fact that over time, taking into account scientific progress, technologies and equipment are constantly being modernized, which means that it becomes possible to tighten standards to reduce environmental impact.
How to check the condition of the air?
You can also assess the quality of individual elements of the biosphere using numerous variations of these norms. In particular, it is possible to analyze the state of the air envelope of a region on the basis of several tools:
- Maximum permissible concentration of harmful substances in the air of an industrial zone. This standardization implies measurements of the concentration of harmful substances in the air at an eight-hour working day or 40-hour working week. An accumulation of substances that are not capable of causing disease is considered permissible. Moreover, it is possible to detect occupational disease not only in the process of labor activity, but also in the future.
- The maximum permissible concentration of pollution in the air of settlements. Sub-sensory (reflex) reactions of the human body should not occur with half-hour inhalation of air with an allowable concentration.
- Permissible concentration of pollutants in the airspace of the working strip as a temporary standard, valid for no more than 2 years.
- Maximum permissible emissions of harmful and polluting substances into the environment. This criterion is necessary to ensure maximum compliance with sanitary and hygienic provisions in the air of settlements, taking into account difficult weather conditions. Such environmental quality standards are valid for up to 5 years.
- The maximum permissible amount of fuel burned. The specified indicator guarantees compliance with all requirements of the sanitary services related to the products of fuel combustion in the atmosphere of settlements.
The value of water basin quality standards
Of great importance in the system of sanitary and environmental indicators is the analysis of the state and contamination of the water basin. The established environmental quality standards, in particular water bodies, allow you to control the amount of harmful and toxic substances entering the water. The maximum permissible concentrations in no case should have a direct or indirect effect on the health of people of the present, as well as subsequent generations.
Hygienic conditions for water use, in turn, will help maintain the quality of water bodies used for fishing business. Moreover, the indicators of permissible concentration in such a water basin will always be stricter and tougher than analogues established for practically fishless rivers, lakes and stakes. This fact can be explained by the fact that toxic and inorganic compounds tend to accumulate in the organisms of aquatic inhabitants in significant quantities.
Standards required for rationing soil, noise and radiation indicators
Assessment of the soil layer also occurs according to the standards established according to the maximum permissible concentration of pollutants in the arable layer. The negative effect that the soil saturated with toxins and chemical components can have in contact with water, air, plants, can indirectly affect human health. Standard calculations are valid for three years.
Standards and guidelines for environmental quality include other indicators. These include noise and radiation criteria. The first group of developed standards implies fixed maximum permissible noise levels, according to which daily and systematic effects on human health will not negatively affect their performance.
Radiation pollution of the biosphere should be constantly monitored by sanitary authorities. The consequences of excessive or prolonged accumulation of radioactive substances in the human body can be extremely serious. It is known that ionizing radiation can cause cancer. Therefore, indicators of these standards should imply the impossibility of unjustified exposure.