Environmental risks are damages that are considered to occur in the event of a natural or man-made (anthropogenic) disaster. When an environmental disaster occurs, an environmental risk has materialized, which is determined by one or more risk factors..
These factors are those environmental or anthropic conditions that predispose to a risk situation and that are defined by danger and vulnerability. Dangerousness consists of the probability or possibility of a dangerous event or situation occurring. For its part, vulnerability is the probability that the environment will suffer damage if this dangerous event occurs.
Examples of environmental risks are the risk of an earthquake, a tsunami, volcanic eruptions, pandemics, or oil spills. As can be seen, they are environmental disasters that occur frequently in the world..
Environmental risk factors are all those that promote the possibility of an accident or catastrophe that negatively impacts the environment. However, for said dangerous or threatening situation to become a certain environmental risk, the probability of its occurrence is not enough..
In addition, it must be considered how fragile the concrete environment is in the face of the catastrophe. That is, it is necessary to assess the vulnerability or probability that the environment suffers damage in the face of this dangerous event..
There are two parameters that determine whether an environmental risk can be greater or less:
Among the physical factors that determine an environmental risk, the geographical context and the location of human activities (interference) are fundamental. By establishing human facilities in a certain area, you can increase the risk of the occurrence of a dangerous event and also the vulnerability.
In addition, there are natural physical risk factors, such as all climatic factors and elements. Similarly, vibrations, tectonic plate movement, radiation and noise.
For example, on a steep mountain, the presence of shallow soil with a rocky layer underneath. This mixed with a high precipitation event, can lead to landslide occurring..
It refers to the presence of potentially harmful chemical elements for the environment and human beings. Chemical factors give rise to risks especially attributable to human action.
There are also natural chemical risk factors, such as arsenic contamination from natural sources in the soil..
However, in most cases the chemical risk factors have to do with the chemical facilities and their safety conditions. This includes explosive, toxic, irritating, corrosive substances, whether solid, liquid or gaseous..
Biological factors for an environmental risk can be the presence of insects and other animals that transmit diseases, as well as the existence of organisms that are potentially dangerous to humans directly. Examples are pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa or poisonous animals such as insects, arachnids and snakes..
Factors such as possible contact with organic parts derived from medical centers and laboratories also involve biological environmental risk. In the same way, contact with body fluids of animals, which can transmit different diseases.
Social factors are human activities that determine situations of possible occurrence of environmental catastrophes. For example, the alteration of essential ecological balances or the construction of inadequate infrastructures that can cause or increase environmental damage..
Thus, the emission of greenhouse gases such as COtwo it is a risk factor caused by humans. This factor increases the risk of global warming, one of the main catastrophes that threatens the environment today..
Environmental risk implies the possibility of a danger that becomes a catastrophe and this risk is of two fundamental types: natural and anthropic. However, many experts include a third type based on the combination of both, socio-natural risks.
These environmental risks are presented by the action of natural phenomena with little or no human interference. These environmental risks include earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and meteorite impacts..
Environmental risks of anthropic origin are all those where the dangerous event that threatens to happen would be caused by human action. This line includes the risks related to possible industrial accidents or transport of potentially harmful products..
For example, oil spills, chemical spills, discharge of untreated sewage, radioactive leaks, leaks of hazardous material from laboratories. Likewise, the mishandling of food in the food processing and vending industry as well as the mishandling of wildlife as food.
These risks are generated by the combination of natural phenomena and interference and risk exposure by human beings. This type of risk gives rise to the so-called socio-natural catastrophes.
For example, when in an area proven seismic (prone to earthquakes), buildings are built not designed to resist these movements. In this case, when faced with a certain danger (earthquake), a high vulnerability is created (inadequate constructions). Therefore, dangerousness plus vulnerability, gives rise to a determined environmental risk.
Given the existence of environmental risks, the discipline of environmental management has the specific area or sub-discipline of environmental risk management. This is in charge of identifying risks, analyzing them, assigning them a level of probability or possibility, establishing possible consequences and suggesting prevention measures..
The first step is to identify the possible initiating events, that is, those events that, if they occur, would generate environmental damage..
Then, the possible environmental damage scenarios are established, creating the event tree. That is, from each possible initiating event, the chain of events that can be triggered is established.
In such a way that the different possible danger scenarios are outlined. Subsequently, probabilities of occurrence are assigned to each scenario, either with qualitative or quantitative methods..
There are events that are more likely to occur than others. Many natural phenomena have a certain level of prediction, such as a large tropical storm, others have a lower level such as an earthquake.
In addition, the vulnerability to each scenario is evaluated and the possible consequences are established in each case. Finally, with all the information, the risk estimate is made.
Depending on the context, each particular environmental risk will require certain measures to reduce its probability of materializing. It is also possible that a certain level of risk is simply accepted or that contingency plans are prepared to mitigate it once it has materialized..
It is the so-called seismic risk, which considers the probability of an earthquake, while taking into account the vulnerability to it. This is a type of natural or socio-natural environmental risk, since vulnerability depends on social factors, such as where and what type of infrastructure is built.
In this case it is difficult to predict the possibility of occurrence, although the susceptible areas are. Cities located in tectonic plate contact areas or on faults have a high risk of occurrence. For example Mexico City (Mexico), many Japanese cities or Los Angeles (USA).
Another type of natural or socio-natural environmental risk is volcanic eruptions, which have a higher predictive level than earthquakes. Areas with active volcanoes face this type of environmental risk permanently, such as the areas around the Fuego volcano in Guatemala..
Tsunamis are large waves caused by earthquakes or underwater volcanic eruptions. The risk of their occurrence is high in areas of contact between oceanic plates, as occurs in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire..
Tsunami risk is predictable only on very short notice, once underwater movement is detected. Faced with such an eventuality, a Tsunami Alert is issued, which informs the risk of its occurrence.
Spills, spills or leaks of various substances dangerous to the environment are a permanent risk worldwide, defined by anthropic factors. Especially frequent are oil spills, which cause a strong negative environmental impact, especially in marine areas..
But also any installation related to the chemical industry implies a risk of leaks, with serious environmental consequences. Likewise, radioactive leaks from nuclear power plants are a permanent risk, which if it occurs brings serious consequences.
As demonstrated in the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident at a Ukrainian nuclear power plant. Also, the risk of untreated wastewater discharges is destroying a large part of freshwater sources and affecting marine ecosystems..
This type of biological environmental risk is becoming more and more evident in the world. In this case, the danger is the worldwide spread of an extremely contagious pathogen, becoming a pandemic..
While vulnerability is manifested in the large human concentrations that exist today. As well as the ease of mass transportation and the weakness of public health systems.
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