The article considers the natural and climatic conditions of population living in the Baikal region. Most of the population of all subjects – the Irkutsk oblast, Republic of Buryatia and Zabaykalsky krai live in the southern part of the region in conditions of moderate climatic discomfort. The territorial features of the differentiation of the atmosphere's ability to self-purification (from extremely low to moderately high) are shown, depending on the combination of recurrence of calm, weak wind speeds and precipitation amounts. It has been established that the most thermally favorable territories of river valleys and intermountain depressions are characterized by an increased level of its pollution. The main air pollutants are motor transport and industrial enterprises. A significant proportion of the total amount of pollutant emissions from stationary sources belongs to the enterprises producing and distributing electricity, gas and water. Their contribution fluctuates in recent years in the range of 46–54 % in the Irkutsk oblast, 64–74 % in the Republic of Buryatia and 55–60 % in the Zabaykalsky krai. The level of exposure to pollutants is determined by the quantity and quality of fuel consumed, the bulk of which is brown coal in all subjects. The combination of impressive emissions and low and extremely low atmospheric capacity for self-purification contribute to the formation of high and very high atmospheric pollution indices (IZA), which is one of the main factors in increasing the morbidity and mortality of the population. Growth (1,3 times) of morbidity of the population of the region by malignant neoplasms is revealed. The cumulative negative impact of natural and anthropogenically caused discomfort is clearly reflected in the spatial distribution of the incidence of the population with malignant neoplasms. Its gradient in the subjects is directed from moderate discomfort towards an increase in the severity of the climate, and in the conditions of the same discomfort – from the municipal areas to the more polluted urban areas. A cost estimate of the risk of premature mortality of the able-bodied population was carried out. Economic damage in this case in 2016 for the Irkutsk oblast 4,7 % of GRP, 8,6 for the Republic of Buryatia and 7,5 % and for the Zabaykalsky krai. The issue of the environmental component of the cost of electricity and heat in the region was discussed. It is shown that the economic potential of renewable energy sources is more than 70 % of the volume of consumed coal at power stations and boiler houses of the entities, which provides real opportunities for the development of alternative energy with a reduction in the level of atmospheric pollution.

Korytny Leonid Markusovich, Doctor of Sciences (Geography), Professor, Head Researcher, V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS, 1, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation; Irkutsk Scientific Center SB RAS, 134, Lermontov st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation; Irkutsk State University, 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952)42-64-60, e-mail: kor@irigs.irk.ru 

Bashalkhanova Ludmila Bazarsadaevna, Candidate of Sciences (Geography), Senior Researcher, V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS, 1, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952) 42-82-75, e-mail: ldm@irigs.irk.ru 

Veselova Viktoria Nikolaevna, Candidate of Sciences (Geography), Senior Researcher, V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS, 1, Ulan-Batorskaya st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation; Irkutsk Scientific Center SB RAS, 134, Lermontov st., Irkutsk, 664033, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952)42-75-01, e-mail: veselova@irigs.irk.ru 

Balzhinov Arkady Valerievich, Candidate of Sciences (Economic), Associate Professor, East-Siberian University of Technology and Management, 40B, Klyuchevskaya st., Ulan-Ude, 670013, Russian Federation, tel.: (3012)21-27-42, e-mail: а_bal@mail.ru 

Mikheeva Elena Vladimirovna, Candidate of Sciences (Economic), Associate Professor, East-Siberian University of Technology and Management, 40B, Klyuchevskaya st., Ulan-Ude, 670013, Russian Federation, tel.: (3012)21-27-42, e-mail: miheevaev@inbox.ru 

Bashalkhanov Innokenty Alexandrovich, Candidate of Sciences (Geography), NPF «Regional Environmental Forecasting», 44, Marat st., Irkutsk, 664025, Russian Federation, tel.: (3952)33-53-26, e-mail: bash-zem@yandex.ru

Korytny L.M., Bashalkhanova L.B., Veselova V.N., Balzhinov A.V., Mikheeva E.V., Bashalkhanov I.A. Natural and Climatic Factors of Ecological Safety in the Context of Socio-Economic Development of the Baikal Region. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Earth Sciences, 2018, vol. 25, pp. 88-106. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3402.2018.25.88 (in Russian)

Arguchintsev V.K., Arguchintseva A.V. Modeli i metody dlya resheniya zadach okhrany atmosfery, gidrosfery i podstilayushchei poverkhnosti [Models and methods for solving problems of protection of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and underlying surface]. Irkutsk, Irkutsk State Univer. Publ., 2001, 115 p. (in Russian)

Glazyrina I.P., Fattakhov R.V., Delyuga A.V., Stroev P.V., Grigorov A.A. Baikal'skii region: «ekologicheskaya tsena» ekonomicheskogo rosta [Baikal region: «ecological price» of economic growth]. Region. Ekonomika i sotsiologiya [Region: Economics and Sociology]. 2018, no. 1(97), рр. 231-249. DOI: 10.15372/REG20180111. (in Russian)

Bashalkhanova L.B., Veselova V.N., Korytny L.M. Resursnoe izmerenie sotsial'nykh uslovii zhiznedeyatel'nosti naseleniya Vostochnoi Sibiri [Resource measurement of social conditions for life activity of the population of East Siberia]. Novosibirsk, GEO Publ., 2012, 221 p. (in Russian)

Bezuglaya E.Yu., Smirnova I.V. Vozdukh gorodov i ego izmeneniya [The Air of cities and its changes]. St.-Peterburg, Asterion Publ., 2008, 254 p. (in Russian)

Bobylev S.N. Ekonomika prirodopol'zovaniya [Economics of nature management]. Moscow, INFRA-M Publ., 2014, 400 p. (in Russian)

Kireenko A.P., Rusetskaya G.D., Gorbunova O.I. Ushcherb zdorov'yu naseleniya ot zagryazneniya okruzhayushchei sredy Baikal'skoi prirodnoi territorii: opyt sravnitel'nogo statisticheskogo analiza [Public health Damage from environmental pollution of Baikal natural territory: experience of comparative statistical analysis]. Izvestiya IGEA [Izvestiya of Irkutsk State Economics Academy], 2012, no. 6 (86), рр. 165-172. (in Russian)

Kryuchkov V.V. Sever: priroda i chelovek [North: nature and man]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1979, 127 р. (in Russian)

Leshchenko Ya.A. Krizis v obshchestvennom zdorov'e i sotsial'no-demograficheskom razvitii: glavnye proyavleniya, prichiny, usloviya preodoleniya [Crisis in public health and social-demographic development: main manifestations, causes, conditions of solving problems]. Irkutsk, RIO NTS East Siberian scientific center SB RAMS Publ., 2006, 276 р. (in Russian)

Bobylev S.N., Sidorenko V.N., Safonov G.A., Avaliani S.L., Strukova E.B., Golub A.A. Makroekonomicheskaya otsenka izderzhek dlya zdorov'ya naseleniya Rossii ot zagryazneniya okruzhayushchei sredy [Macroeconomic estimation of expenses for health of the population of Russia from pollution of environment]. Moscow, Institute of the world Bank WWF Publ., 2002, 32 p. (in Russian)

Saneev B.G., Ivanova I.Yu., Tuguzova T.F. Vozobnovlyaemaya energetika kak odno iz napravlenii snizheniya antropogennoi nagruzki v Tsentral'noi ekologicheskoi zone Baikal'skoi prirodnoi territorii [Renewable power generationas one of the avenues for minimizing the anthropogenic load in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory] Geografiya i prirodnye resursy [Geography and natural resources], 2016, no 3, рр. 86-90. DOI: 10.21782/GiPR0206-1619-2016-3(86-90). (in Russian)

Spravochnik po vozobnovlyaemoi energetike Evropeiskogo Soyuza [European Union renewable energy Handbook]. Moscow, Institute of energy HSE Publ., 2016, 94 р. (in Russian)

Spravochnik po resursam vozobnovlyaemykh istochnikov energii Rossii i mestnym vidam topliva (pokazateli po territoriyam) [Handbook of renewable energy resources in Russia and local fuels (territorial indicators)]. Moscow, Energiya Publ., 2007, 272 р. (in Russian)

Ekologicheskii atlas basseina ozera Baikal [Ecological Atlas of the Baikal basin]. Irkutsk: Institute of geography. V.B. Sochava SB RAS Publ., 2015, 145 p. (in Russian)

Bashalkhanova L.B., Bashalkhanov I.A., Veselova V.N. Dynamics of the subsistence minimum on diskomfort territories of East Siberia. Geography and Natural Resources, 33 (2012), vol. 2, pp. 158-164.

Bezuglaya E.Y. Air Quality in the Russian Federation. WMO Bulletin. Vol. 45, no 2, 1996, рp. 132-135.

Declaration on Green Growth.OECD, 2009.

De Haan M. Accounting for Goods and Bads. Voorburg, Statistics Netherlands, 2004, 216 p.

Energy Technology Perspectives 2008. Scenarios and Strategies to 2050. IEA, 2009.

Hunt W.F., Faoro R.B., Curran T.C. and Muntz J. Estimated cancer incidence pates for selected toxic air pollutants using ambient air pollution data. US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC. 1985.

Green Growth Strategy Interim Report: Implementing Our Commitment for a Sustainable Future. Paris, OECD, 2009.

Health Aspects of Air Pollution. Results from the WNO Project “Systematic Review of Health Aspects of Air Pollution in Europe”. WNO, 2005, 24 р.

Health Aspects of Air Pollution with Particulate Matter, Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide. Report on a WNO Working Group. Bonn, Germany. 2003, 13-15 January, 94 р.

Korytnyi L., Bashalkhanova L., Veselova V., Bashalkhanov I. Resource and climate factors for the provision of social protection in Siberia’s northern territories. Geography and Natural Resources, 2015, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 375-382.

Towards a Green Economy. UNEP. 2008.

Twidell J., Weir A. Renewable Energy Resources. 3d rev. ed. Taylor&Francis, 2015, 696 p. 

WNO. Air Quality Guidelines global update 2005. Report on working group meeting. Bonn, Germany, 2005, 18-20 October, р. 29.