Kemerovo, Russian Federation
Kemerovo, Russian Federation
The article features some aspects of ecological environment in an industrial region, which characterize potential (artificial, man-induced) ecological threats that compose the noxosphere, i. e. constantly or periodically hazardous environment. In spite of the fact that noxology (science of hazards) is actively developing and there are numerous scientific approaches to ecological safety issues, the noxological approach is not adequately reflected in science media. In our attempt to fill this gap we use the following interpretation: noxological approach is a set of scientific and practical methods based on the semantic concept of noxosphere aimed at the transformation of hazardous objects and protective measures needed to ensure the environmental safety of the natural environment and human society. The paper presents some research results concerning environmental hazards, describing the impact on natural environment and man in a complex industrial region, and discusses them from the standpoint of noxological approach. As legal basis for noxological approach the authors use scientific ecological and legal interpretations, in particular, Articles 2 and especially 9 of the Constitution [1; 2, p. 5] on man and land (natural environment). Since "... nature is a value in itself, due to the fact that it is the source of life, but not only that of man", and degradation and extinction (an imbalance in biodiversity, i. e. expansion of noxosphere) of other organisms, more susceptible to changes in the natural environment, it means – for humans – that they will suffer the same fate. This process serves as an indicator of risk. This implies that "there will be no man without a favorable state of nature. And "in the context of meeting the global challenges of biodiversity, only an ecocentric concept of nature protection can be legally recognized and formalized" [2, p. 7]. In our understanding, the use noxological approach to environmental safety assessment could serve the development of ideas of socio-natural interactions and their optimization not only in line with technological solutions, but also in the process of changing the way of thinking and the formation of noxological culture through the synthesis of important traditions and perception of nature and all things natural as a full subject in conjunction with man. As an illustration of the relevance of the noxological approach concept, we consider some research data and results of practical studies performed by Kuzbass scientists aimed at preserving a balanced biodiversity in a coal mining environment. The information system they developed allows one to keep track of growing hazards and assess the risks of their development, in order to make the best decisions for the preservation of the natural environment in the context of heavy anthropogenic impact, which determines the conditions of environmental safety. We believe this approach corresponds to the principle of "balanced development".
danger, environmental safety, environmental safety, noxological approach, noxosphere, noxology, biodiversity, sustainable development, potential environmental hazards, ecological and anthropogenic environment, ecocentric concept of environmental protection, ecological culture, ecological risks.
