Comparative Analysis of Environmental Risks of Wildfires in the Baikal Region

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problems of ecological consequences of forest fires in protected areas. It is proposed to assess atmospheric air pollution during forest fires and their impact on public health by the calculated method of specific emissions and hazard coefficients. The aim of the work is to perform a comparative analysis of environmental risks for the populations of three subjects of the Russian Federation in the Baikal region, and ranking of territories by the level of atmospheric air pollution during forest fires.Materials and Methods. The initial data were statistical information on forest fires in the Irkutsk region, the Republic of Buryatia, the Trans-Baikal Territory in the period from 2013 to 2020, procedural documents of forest fires, including schemes and types of fires, areas and coordinates of fires, protocols of inspection of the fire site, acts of official investigation and other materials.Results. The paper analyzes forest fires in the protected Baikal natural area of the Baikal region and their environmental consequences. The emphasis is placed on establishing the average annual characteristics of forest fires (number, area, economic damage, specific emissions of combustion product into the atmosphere, risks to public health). It is proved that bulk emissions from forest fires bring additional atmospheric pollution; it is 20 % of stationary sources of emissions. The Republic of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region contribute the most to the pollution of the atmosphere of the Baikal region.Discussion and Conclusion. The methodology proposed by the authors for ranking territories by environmental risks can be used for predictive assessment of the consequences of fires for public health. The forecast results serve to support organizational and administrative measures, including decisions to attract additional forces and equipment, and to evacuate the population. According to the results of the forecast of the consequences of fires for the health of the population, a fire-fighting plan is being developed, which determines the methods and tactics of fire extinguishing, the distribution of forces and means, the decisive direction of actions, etc. According to the greatest contribution to the deterioration of living conditions and the risk of poisoning by combustion products, the studied territories are ranked in the following order: Irkutsk region – Republic of Buryatia – Trans-Baikal Territory.