Environmental pollution standards

In order to analyze the state of the environment and track deviations, as well as to identify inconsistencies in natural conditions with the requirements of the needs of populations of living organisms and people, there are established environmental standards. Special control services monitor and analyze changes in the climatic characteristics of the atmosphere. With the help of this, conclusions can be drawn about changes in landscapes, the quality of air basins, soil layers, aquatic environment and other areas.

Content

Pollution standards
Classification of pollution standards
Maximum allowable values of harmful substances in the air
Main sources of pollution

Pollution standards

Determining the environmental safety of the environment is quite simple. It is enough to analyze the indicators of pollution standards and use them to protect the population from harmful effects. Each standard determines the permissible concentration of harmful substances that are in the environment, as well as the level of harmful effects in the form of acoustic, radiation, electromagnetic sources. In addition, the indicator determines the content of harmful elements in food.

Classification of pollution standards

There are a lot of environmental quality indicators, so they were combined into four large groups:

sanitary-hygienic contains standards responsible for the concentration of harmful substances in the soil, atmosphere, water bodies. This group also includes harmful physical effects in the form of vibrations, noise, various types of radiation. The established indicators are aimed at improving and protecting human health;

ecological the standards of this group determine the anthropogenic impact on the environment, on which the existence of people and the environment depends. The purpose of these indicators is to preserve the planet’s gene pool, restore the ecosystem, prevent depletion and deterioration of the natural environment;

production and economic consists of a technological, recreational, urban planning subgroup. The task of the standards is to ensure safety in the process of planning and building cities, optimal conditions for tourism and recreation, limiting waste and emissions, etc.;

temporary includes an assessment of the air environment, water basins, soil layers and radioactive contamination.

As a rule, environmental standards are set for all regions the same. An exception may be resort and recreation areas (where the indicators will be higher).

Maximum allowable values of harmful substances in the air

Substance name	Maximum allowable single value, mg/m³	Average daily permissible value mg/m³
Sulphur dioxide	0.5	0.05
Phosphoric anhydride	0.15	0.05
Nitrobenzene	0.008	0.008
Carbon monoxide	3.0	1.0
Sulfuric acid vapor	0.3	0.1
Ammonia	0.2	0.04
Naphthalene	0.003	0.003

Regulations are constantly being updated and new ones are being developed. There are special services that control this process.

Main sources of pollution

The most common pollutants are emissions dispersed in the atmospheric air, discharges into ground and surface waters, physical and chemical factors (noise, vibration, radiation), biological pollutants. In cases where the concentration of substances exceeds the permissible level, special actions are taken to improve the state of the environment.