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Vol 104, No 1 (2025)
ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
Radiological Threats in the Territory of Mine No.1 of the Lermontovsky Production Association "Almaz"
Abstract
Introduction. Mine No. 1, operated until 1975, is in the Beshtau mountain range of the Stavropol Territory. The radiation situation and its potential deterioration due to the unsatisfactory condition of the mine dumps is of concern to the public and local administration. The article presents the results of radiation survey of the mine and its dumps and assesses their impact on the exposure of the population and terrestrial biota.
Materials and methods. Gamma survey of the territory and express measurement of radon activity were carried out. For determination of radionuclide activity in soil, sampling with subsequent laboratory analysis was carried out. According to the results of measurements, radiation doses to the population and biota were estimated.
Results. In the dumps of thirteen adits the dose rate values do not exceed 0.6 µSv/h. In the area of other 11 adits there are sites with higher values (up to 5 µSv/h), the soil of which is classified as solid radioactive waste. Values of radon volumetric activity reach 1.5 kBq/m3. When passing the longest route, the effective dose from the inhalation intake of radon will not exceed 3 mSv. The radiation doses to biota are 3 or more times lower than the derived consideration reference level.
Limitations. When comparing the radionuclide content in soil with the criteria for waste classification and estimating biota doses, the traditional assumption of the age-old equilibrium of 234U and 230Th in 238U decay chains was used. Radiation doses were estimated under the assumption of permanent presence of bioobjects on the territory. The chronic exposure dose rate values of 1.0 mGy/day for mammals, vertebrates, and common pine and 10 mGy/day for plants and invertebrates were taken as safe dose levels.
Conclusion. Single visits to Mount Beshtau do not pose a threat to public health. At the estimated values of radiation doses to terrestrial biota there is no information about deterministic effects of ionizing radiation on bioobjects.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require a conclusion of the Biomedical Ethics Committee.
Contribution:
Belskikh Iu.S. – the concept and design of the study, writing a text;
Shandala N.K. – the concept and design of the study, writing a text, editing;
Titov A.V. – collection and processing of material, writing a text;
Isaev D.V. – collection of literature data, collection and processing of material;
Semenova М.P. – collection and processing of material, editing;
Doroneva T.A., Seregin V.A., Krotkova Iu.V., Filonova A.A. – collection and processing of material.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Acknowledgement. The authors express their gratitude to the staff of the Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology No. 101 of FMBA of Russia.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
funding. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: April 8, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
6-12
Particulate air pollution in Tashkent and consequences to population health
Abstract
Introduction. Air pollution, and particularly high concentrations of PM2.5 can have severe consequences to human health. Particulate air pollution raises the risks for various diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and diabetes type 2. For all of Uzbekistan, over 2021 the expected value of mortality attributable to Ambient PM2.5 pollution was 27,099. This is a significant cause of the mortality in the country. Top five sources contributing to outdoor PM2.5 concentration were: residential, industry, energy, anthropogenic dust, and agriculture.
Materials and methods. To estimate PM2.5 attributable mortality in Tashkent, we downloaded the available PM2.5 from the air quality monitor at the US Embassy in Tashkent, and the satellite-based PM2.5 concentration data for the city of Tashkent from the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group at the Washington University in St. Louis. Population data for Tashkent city was taken from the official statistics agency of Uzbekistan. We then applied a PM2.5 attributable mortality model.
Results. For the years 2019 to 2022 we estimate a range of mortality in the city from a low of 3095 to a high of 4736; using the same attributable mortality model but the different sources of PM2.5 concentrations.
Limitations. The monitor at the US Embassy may not represent average particulate matter concentrations across the entire city. satellite data do not directly measure PM2.5 concentrations and in general rely on ground monitors for verification. Tashkent is growing very quickly and the official estimates of the city’s population may be on the low side.
Conclusion. Air quality in Tashkent is a serious health issue and a source of annual mortality. Tashkent needs a detailed emission inventory and source apportionment to support a high quality and feasible air quality management plan and to address the high costs of air pollution.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.
Contribution:
Brody M.S. – overall idea and design of the study, main author of the text;
Saidov D.N. – collection of particulate concentration data and data processing;
Ilesaliev D.I. – collection of literature and population data;
Razikov R.S. – provision of facilities and approval.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgment. The United States Fulbright Specialist Program provided a grant to Dr. Brody that funded his time at the Tashkent State Transport University. Tashkent State Transport University hosted Dr. Brody and provided housing and its facilities available for this work. Dr. Vladimir Potashnikov assisted with modeling of attributable mortality.
Received: October 5, 2024 / Accepted: November 2, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
13-16
Ecological and hygienic assessment of natural hydrocarbons content in arctic and subarctic soils of the European North-East of the Russian Federation
Abstract
Introduction. The study of natural levels of hydrocarbons (HCs) content in soils is an urgent task, the solution of which will help to objectively assess the level of anthropogenic contamination of soils and timely limit the processes of extraction, processing, and transport of petroleum HCs. The analysis of HCs content in background soils will make it possible to reveal the regularities of their accumulation in the Arctic and Subarctic regions, taking into account the landscape and geochemistry of the areas.
Materials and methods. Representative samples of the main soil types were selected using the route method, taking into account the peculiarities of soil cover formation in different landscapes. The concentration of HCs in the samples was determined in hexane extracts based on their fluorescence intensity.
Results. The studies have shown that HCs accumulation and distribution in soil profiles are influenced by various factors such as soil genesis, relief, organic matter content, and physical clay. The highest HCs concentrations were observed in soils of accumulation landscapes on loamy sediments (Retisols), and the lowest in soils of eluvial landscapes on sands (Podzols). HCs profile differentiation is also more pronounced on loamy soils and less so on sandy soils. The results obtained allowed updating the existing database and mapping the HCs distribution in the background soils of the European Arctic and Subarctic.
Limitations. The limitation of the study is related to the fact that only background soils at a distance of at least 1 km from railways and motorways, 5 km from settlements and 10 km from industrial plants were sampled. In this paper, only natural HCs were analysed, without considering other classes of organic and inorganic compounds.
Conclusion. The data on the concentration of natural HCs in different background soils of the European North-East of Russia with respect to landscape-geochemical peculiarities have been obtained. The results provide an opportunity to assess the possible level of contamination of soils of the European Arctic and Subarctic. The HC content in organogenic horizons is shown to be characterised by a high accumulation capacity and act as an integral indicator of the aerotechnogenic load on the soil cover. Threshold values of HCs concentration are proposed for the studied soils, which are in a wide range from 3.4 to 40 mg/kg and can be used for ecological and hygienic assessment of high latitude soils.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the Biomedical Ethics Committee or other documents.
Contribution:
Lodygin E.D. – study conception and design, mathematical processing, drafting;
Alekseev I.I., Nesterov B.A. – collection of material, data processing.
All co-authors are responsible for editing the manuscript, approving the final version of the article, and ensuring the integrity of all parts of the article.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. This work was supported by the RSF (no. 24-24-00144).
Received: April 1, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
17-22
Modern assessment of copper, lead, cadmium, and nickel concentrations in the water of the Lower Don
Abstract
Introduction. Anthropogenic impact has affected the state of the lower reaches of the Don River, while reducing the natural reproduction of commercial fish species. Currently, for the conservation and reproduction of commercial fish species, passing and semi-passing fish species are released into the reservoir. Therefore, water quality control, including for the content of heavy metals, of the Lower reaches of the Don is especially important.
Materials and methods. The paper presents data from the analytical testing center of the Azov-Black Sea branch of the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. Water samples were collected at eight monitoring stations in the lower reaches of the river. Dissolved forms of metals such as copper, lead, cadmium, and nickel were detected in the samples.
Results. In the course of research, in some samples the concentrations of copper were found to exceed MPC. Such metals as lead, cadmium, and nickel did not exceed MPC throughout the study. Annual and seasonal trend in metal concentrations in water were also established.
Limitations. The limitation of the research of this work lies in the fact that water samples were taken in the lower reaches of the Don River at only 8 monitoring stations, which does not provide complete information on the territory of the entire region.
Conclusion. The content of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and nickel in the water of the Lower Don is safe for the purposes of aquaculture and reproduction of commercial species, since no exceedances of MPC were detected. However, the copper content in some water samples exceeded the MPC, which indicates the contamination of the reservoir, as well as the need to carry out a set of measures to purify water in this facility.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.
Contribution:
Gorgola L.G. – research concept and design, material collection and data processing, statistical processing, text writing;
Barabashin T.O., Denisova T.V. – editing;
Korablina I.V., Gevorkyan Zh.V. – collection and processing of the material.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: February 2, 2024 / Revised: April 25, 2024 / Accepted: October 10, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
23-30
Hygienic assessment of the ionic composition of drinking water of the centralized water supply of the Vladimir region
Abstract
Introduction. The paper presents the results of a study on the hygienic assessment of the cationic-anionic composition of drinking water of centralized water supply in the administrative centers of the Vladimir region.
Materials and methods. The object of the study was the water of the sources of the central water supply of the administrative centers of the Vladimir region. The content of water-soluble forms of anions and cations was determined by capillary electrophoresis. There were compared concentration values with maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) and ranges of permissible hygienic standards (RHS).
Results. In some administrative centers, there has been established concentrations of nitrate ions, phosphate ions, magnesium ions, hardness exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations in drinking water of centralized water supply. Non‒compliance with permissible hygienic standards for chlorides in 16 localities was revealed as follows: for sulfates – in 11; for potassium ions – in 8; for sodium ions – in 9; for magnesium ions – in 3. Non-compliance with minimum RHS for calcium ions was found in the one city. The excess of RHS was noted in seven administrative centers for calcium ions. The drinking water of centralized sources in the city of Petushki is characterized by the highest compliance with hygienic standards (MPC and RHS) according to a set of indices; the smallest is the city of Murom.
Limitations are related to the one-time selection and small number of samples, which fails to allow for a broader interpreting of the obtained data.
Conclusion. The use of drinking water, the quality of which does not meet sanitary and hygienic requirements, may cause an increase in both the level of general morbidity of the population and in certain nosological forms. In order to reduce the potential adverse impact of drinking water with a high content of nitrate ions, phosphate ions, hardness salts on health, the population is recommended to use household water purification filters, the principle of operation of which is based on methods of adsorption and ion exchange, as well as to use household reverse osmosis systems with a mineralizer, allowing to purify drinking water by the membrane method get rid of excess anions and hardness salts and saturate it with trace elements necessary for the human body.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require a biomedical ethics committee opinion.
Contribution:
Martsev A.A. – research concept and design, material collection and data processing, structuring of the article;
Selivanov O.G. – material collection and data processing, text writing;
Kosmacheva A.G. – text writing;
Kurochkin I.N. – laboratory research;
Trifonova T.A. – research concept and design.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: April 17, 2024 / Accepted: June 19 / Published: January 31, 2025
31-36
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Health status of miners in underground and open-pit mining of apatite ore
Abstract
Introduction. The high level of occupational morbidity in apatite miners emphasizes the unresolved problem of maintaining their health throughout the entire period of their working activity.
Aim. To study the characteristics of the occupational health in miners of various occupations engaged in open-pit and underground apatite ore mining.
Material and methods. The following databases were examined: 1) the results of medical examination of nine hundred twenty one open-pit and 2649 underground apatite miners; 2) the register of occupational diseases of the Murmansk Regional Center for Occupational Pathology; 3) the register of occupational disease records (Order of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated May 28, 2001 No. 176) in 2008–2021.
Results. In 2008–2021 occupational morbidity in underground and open-pit apatite ore miners at the Khibiny deposits reached 208.62 and 170.95 cases/10,000 workers. The increased labour severity (60.7%) and hand-arm vibration (10.1%) were of greater etiological importance in underground miners, while whole-body vibration played a more important role in open-pit miners (33.5%). In the structure of pathology, open-pit miners had a larger share of vibration disease (χ2=24.7; p<0.001), and in underground miners – scapulo humeralis periarthrosis (χ2=12.5; p<0.001), epicondylosis (χ2=7, 44; p=0.007), myofibrosis of the forearms (χ2=12.3; p<0.001), deforming osteoarthritis (χ2=7.58; p=0.006). Occupational diseases developed most often in drifters, underground mine drillers, and open-pit excavator operators: 40.8%, 39.1% and 35.1% of workers. The maximum incidence rate was found among drillers, while the minimum rate was in underground repairmen: 738.92 and 19.62 cases/10,000 workers.
Limitations. The number of observations in some groups of specialists is insufficient for statistical processing.
Conclusion. The new data obtained show that updated health-building measures should take into account the method of apatite ore mining and the specialty of the miners.
Keywords: apatite ore mining; working conditions; miners’ health; occupational diseases; Kola Peninsula
Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local committee of Northwest Public Health Research Center (dated May 12, 2021, protocol No. 35.5). Due to the absence of personal data in the study materials, informed voluntary consent to their use is not required.
For citation: Syurin S.A. Health status of miners in underground and open-pit mining of apatite ore. Gigiena i Sanitariya / Hygiene and Sanitation, Russian journal. 2025; 104(1): 37–44. https://doi.org/10.47470/0016-9900-2025-104-1-37-44 https://elibrary.ru/dapgxk (In Russ.)
For correspondence: Sergei A. Syurin, e-mail: kola.reslab@mail.ru
Conflict of interest. The author declares no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: February 28, 2024 / Revised: June 17, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
37-44
The effect of obstructive Sleep Apnea on hearing impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study among Noise-Exposed Worker
Abstract
Purpose. The principal goal of this investigation was to assess how obstructive sleep apnea affects hearing impairments in workers who are regularly exposed to occupational noise.
Materials and methods. In this investigation, we assessed 920 noise-exposure workers in one of the metal industries in Iran. Noise-induced, high-frequency, and low-frequency hearing loss were classified based on the mean hearing thresholds of more than 25 dB at 500–2000 Hz, 300–8000 Hz, and 4000 Hz, respectively. We used the STOP-Bang questionnaire for screening for sleep apnea, and a score of ≥3 indicated a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlation between hearing impairment and obstructive sleep apnea risk.
Results. The mean hearing thresholds at 3000–8000 Hz and specifically at 4000 Hz were significantly higher among workers at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea compared to those at low risk (p-value <0.05). Following the multivariate logistic regression analysis and the confounding factor adjustment, individuals with high obstructive sleep apnea risk showed a higher incidence of noise-induced hearing loss (p = 0.002, OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.28–2.36) and high-frequency hearing loss (p = 0.02, OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.28–2.16) compared to those with low risk.
Limitations. The cross-sectional design and use of a subjective screening method instead of objective methods such as polysomnography for evaluating obstructive sleep apnea are weaknesses of this study.
Conclusion. The current study showed obstructive sleep apnea in noise-exposed workers increased the risk of developing high-frequency hearing loss and hearing impairment from noise. So, identifying and managing workers with obstructive sleep apnea risk, early hearing screening, and periodic audiometry can help to prevent hearing loss in the primary stage.
Compliance with ethical standards. The data related to this manuscript is part of the information about the residency thesis for Marjan Amini MD at Iran University of Medical Sciences (relationship between smoke and noise-induced hearing loss). The protocol was reviewed and approved by the ethical committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services (protocol no. 1395.9411308001).
Consent for publication. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.
Availability of data and material. Data will be made available on reasonable request.
Contributions:
Elaheh Kabir-Mokamelkhah – Concept, Design of study, literature search, data analysis and Manuscript preparation;
Mashallah Aghilinejad – Concept, Design of study;
Omid asghari – data analysis, and Manuscript preparation;
Marjan Amini – literature search, Data acquisition and Manuscript preparation.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgment. This study was conducted with support from the Deputy for Research at Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS). The study had no sponsorship.
Received: February 8, 2024 / Revised: July 25, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
45-51
Polymorphism of genes of the cytokine system in pathogenesis of the vibration disease among workers of mining and processing enterprises
Abstract
Introduction. Vibration disease (VD) is an occupational disease that develops with prolonged exposure to industrial vibration of different frequencies. VD is one of the most common occupational pathologies. This disease is characterized by the complexity of pathogenetic mechanisms, polymorphism of symptoms, chronic course, therapeutic resistance, and often leads to inability to work and disability in patients. As a rule, VD is observed to be associated with changes in the cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal system and metabolic processes.
Materials and Methods. During the study, seventy three people with various forms of VD were examined. The control group consisted of 73 people who never exposed to vibration in their occupational activities.
Results. The distribution of polymorphic loci rs16944, rs361525, rs1800795 was studied. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistica v.21 and Microsoft Excel software packages. rs16944 is not associated with the development of VD, but is associated with the development of cerebrovascular disease in VD patients. rs1800795 of the IL6 gene also did not show an association with the development of VD, but an association of the *C/*C genotype and the *C allele with peripheral angiodystonic syndrome was demonstrated. The rs361525 locus of the TNFA gene also showed an association with peripheral angiodystonic syndrome and is also associated with the development of hypertension in VD patients.
The limitations of this work include the small sample size and the fact that the study participants from the control sample work at another enterprise, which does not allow both excluding the influence of other environmental factors and considering them as a reference population.
Conclusion. Thus, we were unable to identify a direct association of the studied genotypes with VD, but the association with peripheral angiodystonic syndrome suggests that these polymorphisms to influence on the pathogenesis of VD.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the bioethics commission of the Ufa Research Institute of Occupational Medicine and Human Ecology (extract from the minutes of the meeting No. 01-02 dated February 8, 2024). All participants signed voluntary informed consent to participate in the study.
Contributions:
Karimov D.D. — conducting tests, data processing, statistical processing, text writing;
Shaykhlislamova E.R. — research concept, material collection, data processing, text editing;
Muhammadieva G.F. — data processing, statistical processing, text editing;
Karimov D.O. — research concept, statistical processing, text editing;
Baygildin S.S. – material collection, conducting tests, text editing;
Gizatullina A.A. – material collection, conducting tests, text editing.
All co-authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: December 3, 2023 / Revised: March 17, 2024 / Accepted: October 02, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
52-57
Professional burnout in doctors in medical institutions in Republic of Ghana
Abstract
Introduction. Professional burnout among medical workers is known to be associated with increased workloads, for example, when medical institutions are understaffed with medical personnel, overtime work, and stressful situations. These factors also apply to medical staff in Ghanaian health care institutions. However, there is a lack of research examining how different professionals in healthcare settings in Ghana respond to burnout. There is a need to plan and develop interventions aimed at preventing burnout among healthcare workers in Ghana.
Materials and methods. Survey questions for the conduct of this study included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) survey, which was used to assess the level of emotional burnout. At the same time, we added special questions to the questionnaire, which assessed the intensity of work of representatives of various specialties of medical institutions in Ghana. We conducted sociological survey to collect data about risk factors for diseases, which were present from the period 2018 to 2022, among workers of medical facilities in Ghana. One thousand eighty three workers participated. In this study, doctors were divided into professional groups, 4 in total. These groups were represented by the following specialties: surgery, therapy, laboratory diagnostics, representatives of the administrative level. We analyzed the data by the use of SPSS, and presented the results in descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.
Results. The study found differences in the levels of professional burnout, as well as differences in the intensity of work functions among doctors in various specialties. Thus, surgeons were characterized by the highest intensity of work (p <0.001). The therapeutic group, on the other hand, was characterized by an average level. Specialists of laboratory and diagnostic units and administrative level were distinguished by work of the least intensity. However, signs of burnout are common among surgeons, therapists, laboratory technicians, and administrators in Ghanaian hospitals.
Limitations. The lack of regulations governing the conduct and assessment of working conditions, a system for recording and investigating cases of occupational diseases, and special equipment for measuring working conditions in Ghana served as limitations to our scientific research.
Conclusion. Taking into account the results of our study to establish the facts of the development of professional burnout among medical workers in medical institutions in Ghana, it is necessary to apply preventive measures at the level of the Government of Ghana (development of a legal framework, regulatory documents, accounting and reporting forms for registration, measuring instruments and methods for their use for assessing working conditions, preventive programs).
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee or any other document. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.
Contributions:
Akuoko E. – data acquisition for analysis, study design, data curation, conceptualization, writing the text of the manuscript, review of publications on the topic of the article;
Alenitskaia M.V. – software, editing material, writing the text of the manuscript, examination, visualization.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: March 26, 2024 / Revised: May 8, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
58-62
Age trend in risks for the chronic diseases in miners and metallurgists of the Kola Arctic
Abstract
Introduction. With the combined and complex action of harmful occupation factors, traditional methods fail to allow an objective assessing of age-related changes in health.
The purpose of the work. To analyze and give a hygienic assessment of the age trend in prevalence in miners and metallurgists of the Kola Arctic.
Materials and methods. There were examined three groups of workers of the Kola Arctic region including 1758 workers from the mining complex with harmful working conditions (degree of harm 3.1.–3.3); 2181 workers of the metallurgical enterprise (degree of harm 3.1.–3.3); 242 engineering and technical staff (hazard classes 2 and 3.1). There were investigated 12 classes of diseases, established according to the data of periodic medical examinations. The average values of morbidity indices and linear regression indice were calculated as “disease risk = annual gain in risk (AGR) · age + const”. The relative assessment of the AGR was carried out in relation to the actual value to the control, background value.
Results. For each class of diseases in four age groups of employees (20–29; 30–39; 40–49; 50–59 years). These linear regressions were calculated. The obtained AGR values were compared with the control values and the values in the report. The obtained values of the AGR were compared with the control values and literature data. The highest AGR for diseases of the circulatory system, musculoskeletal system, and chronic diseases was found in workers in the mining complex. The highest annual increase in the risk of diseases of the respiratory, genitourinary and endocrine systems was observed in workers in metallurgical production. The annual rise in the risk of diseases of the organs of vision was the highest in the group of specialists. The differences in the prevalence in the examined groups of workers are due to the differences in the annual increases.
Limitations. The limitation of the study may be the insufficient amount of data to calculate the AGR in women due to the legislative prohibition of the use of female labour in underground work and in some types of metallurgical industries.
Conclusion. The workers at the mining complex have the highest annual gain in the risk for diseases of the circulatory system, musculoskeletal system, and in the number of chronic diseases. Metallurgical workers have the highest annual increase in the risk of diseases of the respiratory system, genitourinary, and endocrine systems. The annual increase in the risk of diseases of the visual organs is of the greatest importance in the group of specialists. The differences in the disease levels of the surveyed groups of workers are due to differences in their annual increases.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved at the meeting of the Medical Expert Commission No. 2021/30.4 dated March 16, 2021. Each participant of the study gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.
Contribution:
Sorokin G.A. – research concept and design, statistical data processing, text writing;
Syurin S.A. – data collection;
Kiryanova M.N. – data collection, text editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: May 3, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
63-70
Features of the work activity and health status in station and shunting dispatchers at the railway transport
Abstract
Introduction. One of the urgent problems of occupational hygiene is the optimization of working conditions and the protection of the health in workers at the railway transport. Technical progress at the railway transport, the introduction of modern automation tools, and the gain in the operational capacity of railways place special requirements for such occupations referred to the group of dispatching and operator occupations. One of the leading occupations among this category of workers is the profession of station and maneuver dispatchers. Chronic exposure to nervous and emotional stress in station and maneuver dispatchers can contribute to the development of pathological conditions in various organs and systems of the body and cause corresponding diseases. Therefore, an in-depth study of the working conditions of station and shunting dispatchers is relevant and timely.
The purpose of the study to investigate the working conditions in station and shunting dispatchers of the railway transport with the development of preventive measures.
Materials and methods. Time-lapse studies were carried out (photo of the working day). Measurements of harmful production factors in the workplace were carried out using the method of special assessment of working conditions. The structure of morbidity has been studied.
Results. According to the conducted research, it was found that the duration of concentrated attention for shunting dispatchers is 93.3%, for station dispatchers 87.7%. The average signal density per hour is 304 for the station dispatcher, and 311 for the maneuvering dispatcher. The load on the organs of hearing and vision was established. The hearing load for station dispatchers was 4–8 hours, for maneuver dispatchers – 5–7 hours, including talking on the “phone” and “selector”. During the work of the dispatcher, complex tasks are solved with a choice according to known algorithms (work according to a series of instructions), which takes 73.5–79.3% of the working time for station dispatchers, 70.8–96.3% for maneuvering dispatchers. Morbidity rates with temporary disability in the above-mentioned occupations are much higher than the industry average.
Limitations. Stations and branches were selected as the basic facilities for conducting hygienic research at the Moscow, Oktyabrskaya, and Sverdlovskaya railways.
Conclusion. The work activity in station and maneuver dispatchers is characterized by a significant
amount of work, including speech (semantic), signal (auditory), sign and visual information. This allows characterizing it as operator labour against the background of a high degree of stress factors. According to the indicators of the intensity of the labour process, the working conditions in station and maneuver dispatchers are classified as strenuous work of the 3rd grade of harmfulness, class 3.3. Employees of this occupation category have a high incidence of temporary loss of ability to work in terms of the number of cases of disability of 149.0 and the number of days of disability of 1,800, 8 per 100 employees. The average duration of the one case is 12.1 days. Based on the conducted research there were developed preventive recommendations, including rehabilitative psychohygienic means, and methods of improving the health in operator personnel and knowledge workers.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the Biomedical ethics committee or other documents.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: December 4, 2024 / Revised: December 27, 2024 / Accepted: January 9, 2025 / Published: January 31, 2025
71-75
HYGIENE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Identification of prognostic risk factors associating with lifestyle contributing to the development of health disorders in 9–11 grades students
Abstract
Introduction. The development of society is largely determined by the level of population health of adolescents, which has a significant impact on the health of the nation as a whole and forms its cultural, intellectual, industrial, military, and reproductive potential. Studying the causes that contribute to the development of health disorders in students will help to identify the main health risk factors to justify priority areas of preventive work among children and adolescents.
Materials and methods. Object of the study were 9–11 grades students. Research method: survey. To identify the complex influence of lifestyle risk factors on the likelihood of developing psychoneurological borderline disorders, the method of multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used. To assess the quality of the models, the ROC curve analysis method was used.
Results. The main predictors contributing to the development of psychoneurological borderline disorders in students in grades 9–11 include: being girl, life dissatisfaction, low support for the student from teachers, students being “busy” with electronic media for a long time, manifested by intensive use and preference for online communication; lack of sleep and walks on school days, participation in bullying as a victim or aggressor, lack of intense physical activity; low support for the student from family members, and smoking. The contribution of factors influencing the dependent variables ranged from 26.4% to 35.8%.
Limitations. Model construction was based on data collected through an online questionnaire; there was an imbalance in the frequency distribution of syndrome variables.
Conclusion. The prognostic risk factors for adolescent lifestyle influencing the development of disorders of well-being in students were determined. There was used multivariate regression analysis allowed identifying the independent impact of each risk factor for the health in students on the outcome, taking into account the correction for other factors included in the model. The results obtained can be used in the future to develop scientifically based recommendations for the prevention of health disorders in students.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene (meeting protocol No. 2 dated 15.02.2023), was conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (as amended 2013). All participants and their legal representatives gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.
Contribution:
Kuchma V.R. – the concept, editing;
Sokolova S.B. – concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing text;
Sedova A.S. – editing;
Rapoport I.K. – processing of material, editing;
Chubarovsky V.V. – processing of material, editing;
Tikashkina O.V. – collection and processing of material, statistical processing;
Boldyreva M.G. – collection and processing of material, statistical processing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Received: August 30, 2024 / Accepted: October 2, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
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Etiopathogenetic programs aimed at preventing in children risk-associated diseases caused by exposure to adverse components in emissions from a large non-ferrous metallurgic production
Abstract
Introduction. Non-ferrous metallurgy holds a specific place among various productions that create potential health risks due to environmental pollution. Total emissions from the branch enterprises into ambient air reach three million tons (aluminum, fluorine, nickel, manganese, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur dioxide and trioxide, hydrocarbon, etc.) per year, which accounts for 18% of the total emissions from all stationary sources. Implementation of etiopathogenetic prevention programs is a promising trend in preventing in children actual diseases associated with poor quality of the environment.
The aim of this study was to develop and substantiate technologies aimed at reducing incidence in children of risk-associated pathologies caused by exposure to emissions from a large non-ferrous metallurgic enterprise as well as assess their effectiveness.
Materials and methods. We examined five hundred forty two children lived in close proximity to a large non-ferrous metallurgic enterprise and 149 children who lived on a reference territory. Both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, lifestyle, and socioeconomic position. The examination program included general clinical, functional, laboratory, chemical-analytical and statistical research methods, mathematical modelling, and assessment of technology effectiveness.
Results. Fluorine, aluminum, manganese, chromium and nickel compounds as well as benzo(a)pyrene were identified in ambient air on the observation territory, their levels reaching 1.20–10.96 of average annual MPL; ambient air on the reference territory conformed to safety standards. Blood levels of these chemicals, which are 1.4–5.0 times higher than the reference level, raise prevalence of diseases of respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems and blood by 1.6–3.1 times. Pathomorphosis and pathology prevalence are determined by serous-catarrhal and immune-dependent inflammation with damage to airway epithelium and thyrocytes, deceleration of endochondral ossification and bone remodelling, impaired neuromediator synthesis and inhibited synaptic transmission, hemopoiesis suppression; impaired iron and iodine metabolism, imbalance in immune-competent cell sub-populations, specific sensitization and redox imbalance induced by chemical exposures.
Limitations. The study was performed in 4–7 years children lived in an area influenced by a large non-ferrous metallurgic enterprise.
Conclusion. Implementation of etiopathogenetic prevention programs decreases frequency of relapses by 3.8 times; prevents a growth in incidence rates; increases the number of children in health groups I and II (practically healthy and without any chronic diseases) by 17–39%; promotes recovery of functional and metabolic activity of critical organs and systems in 68–98% cases. It reduces costs associated with medication provision for children with risk-associated pathology by 34–60% and by 50–75% for children with high and medium risks. Another significant result 2.6–3.3 times shorter duration of temporary disability due to taking care of a sick child with a risk-associated disease; this period decreases 2.6–3.3 times in case of children with high and medium risks. Economic efficiency of these technologies amounts to 6.5 rubles per 1 spent ruble.
Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing (the meeting report No. 12 dated December 18, 2020) and conducted in full conformity with the conventional principles stated in the WMA Declaration of Helsinki (2013 edition).
Contributions:
Zaitseva N.V. — the study concept and design, editing the text;
Ustinova О.Yu. — the study design, data analysis, and editing the text;
Zemlyanova М.А. — the study design, data analysis, and editing the text;
Goryaev D.V. — the study design, data analysis, and editing the text;
Valina S.L. — data collection and analysis, writing the text;
Shtina I.Е. — data collection and analysis, writing the text;
Nosov А.Е. — data collection and analysis;
Kobyakova О.А. — data collection and analysis.
All the authors have approved the final version of the article and bear full responsibility for the integrity of all its parts.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: August 12, 2024 / Revised: October 10, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
84-95
PREVENTIVE TOXICOLOGY AND HYGIENIC STANDARTIZATION
Evaluation of apoptosis gene expression and morphological changes in kidney tissue under acrylamide exposure and prophylactic drug correction
Abstract
Introduction. Acrylamide is a well-known toxicant, contact with which occurs both in industrial and domestic conditions. It has been found to have nephrotoxic properties.
The purpose of the work is to evaluate the expression of the Casp7, Chek1 genes and changes in the structure of the kidney tissue in rats under long-term exposure to acrylamide and preventive correction.
Materials and methods. The experiment used sixty white outbred male rats. Acrylamide was administered intragastrically at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight for 90 days. Correction of possible violations was carried out 1 hour before the administration of the toxicant with complex compounds of hydroxymethyluracil. Gene expression was studied using real-time PCR. SPSS Statistics 21.0 software (IBM, USA) was used for statistical data analysis. Morphological studies of the structure of rat kidneys were carried out using standard methods.
Results. Studies have shown that exposure to acrylamide for 3 months at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight causes structural changes in the kidney tissue in rats. With long-term exposure to acrylamide, there is a tendency to increase the expression of the Chek1 and Casp7 genes, which may indicate cell damage and activation of repair and apoptosis processes in them. The combination of hydroxymethyluracil with acetylcysteine had the greatest protective effect on the structure of the kidneys and the expression of the Casp7 gene.
Limitations are that morphological changes in kidney tissue during long-term exposure to acrylamide were correlated with the expression of only two apoptotic genes. For a more complete understanding of the pathogenetic changes during the damaging effect of acrylamide on the kidneys, it is necessary to conduct a multivariate analysis taking into account other toxicological and genetic indicators.
Conclusion. Acrylamide, when ingested for a long time at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight, has a nephrotoxic effect, which is confirmed by data from morphological studies and a tendency to increase the expression of the main apoptosis genes in kidney tissue. The best protective effect according to the studied parameters was observed with the prophylactic administration of a complex compound of hydroxymethyluracil with acetylcysteine.
Compliance with ethical standards. the study was approved by the bioethical commission of the Ufa Research Institute of Occupational Medicine and Human Ecology (the meeting report No. 01–03 dated 03.05.2024), conducted in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experiments or for Other Scientific Purposes (ETS N 123), Directive of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union 2010/63/EC of 22.09.2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.
Contributions:
Repina E.F. – study concept and design, statistical analysis, text writing;
Karimov D.O. – concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Baygildin S.S. – data collection and processing, text writing;
Shaykhlislamova E.R. – editing;
Bakirov A.B. – concept and design of the study;
Gimadieva A.R. – synthesis of hydroxymethyluracil complex compounds;
Yakupova T.G., Khusnutdinova N.Yu., Smolyankin D.A. – data collection and processing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The work was carried out as part of the state assignment for the industry research program of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing “Scientific justification of the national system for ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being, managing health risks and improving the quality of life of the population of Russia” for 2021-2025. clause 6.1.8, state no. registration 121062100058-8.
Received: March 29, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
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Experimental study of the combined effect of benzene exposure and physical load in rats
Abstract
Introduction. The working process in many industries is often associated not only with chemical exposures but also with heavy physical workload, which can be potent of toxic effects of the former differently.
The purpose of the study was to establish body responses to effects of benzene exposure combined with exercise in an experiment on rats.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted on mature male Wistar rats, ten animals in each of the following groups: “Control”, “Running”, “Benzene exposure”, and “Benzene exposure + running”. Subchronic toxicity was modelled by intragastric administration of benzene thrice a week for 4 weeks in a cumulative dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Exercise was modelled by means of 10-minute forced running sessions at a speed of 25 m/min 5 times a week for 4 weeks. We then measured post-exposure biochemical and hematological indices and the proportion of different types of cells in imprint smears of rat internal organs. Statistical data analysis was carried out using the Student’s t-test with p<0.05. For mathematical modelling of the combined effect of factors, we applied a Response Surface Method (RSM) with the construction of Loewe isobols on its basis.
Results. Almost no statistically significant changes were registered in the rodents who exercised while statistical ones were sporadic and diagnostically insignificant in most cases. Benzene exposure induced changes in blood indices indicating blood clotting disorders, typical of chronic exposure to benzene, and in the antioxidant system. The impact of running on health effects of benzene exposure was ambiguous but isobolographic analysis showed possible additivity and even synergy, both detrimental to health, in 15.6 % of cases.
Limitations. Extrapolation of the study results to human should be done with caution, since the combined effect has been examined only for subchronic exposure using a single species and sex of laboratory animals.
Conclusion. Additivity proven by a number of indices of toxic effect gives important information for understanding and predicting health effects of exposure to organic pollutants combined with physical activity.
Compliance with ethical standards. This experimental study was approved by the institutional Bioethics Committee of the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers (protocol No. 2 of January 11, 2024).
Contribution:
Minigalieva I.A. – study conception and design, editing;
Shabardina L.V. – data collection and analysis, draft manuscript preparation;
Ryabova Yu.V. – draft manuscript preparation, editing;
Nikogosyan K.M. – data collection;
Panov V.G. – data analysis;
Sutunkova M.P. – editing, study conception and design;
Sakhautdinova R.R. – data collection and analysis.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.
Received: April 23, 2024 / Revised: May 21, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
101-109
METHODS OF HYGIENIC AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
Chromatographic mass spectrometric determination of tetracycline antibiotics in water using a single-quadrupole mass analyzer
Abstract
Introduction. Antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are increasingly detected in surface groundwater, and drinking water, raising concerns about their potential adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Standard wastewater treatment methods often fail to effectively remove these compounds, particularly small organic molecules like tetracycline antibiotics, leading to their persistence in the environment. To address this issue, continuous monitoring and surveillance are necessary, including regular analysis of wastewater. Modern analytical methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS), allow detecting trace concentrations. This work presents a new method for qualitative and quantitative analysis using a quadrupole mass analyzer, which can serve as an alternative to tandem mass spectrometry.
Materials and methods. Tetracycline antibiotics (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline) in aquatic environments were detercted using selected ion monitoring (HPLC-MS) and selected reaction monitoring through tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).
Results. There have been established chromatographic and mass spectrometric criteria for the identification of tetracyclines, determining key operating parameters for the quadrupole, such as selected ion scanning based on mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), signal registration time, and duration. The developed method for analyzing tetracyclines using a quadrupole mass analyzer demonstrates analytical characteristics comparable to tandem mass spectrometry based on a triple quadrupole mass analyzer. The method was validated on a quadrupole mass analyzer during the analysis of water samples from natural sources (drinking water, centralized water supply, and treated wastewater). In this analytical approach, the sample preparation process was simplified, allowing for the assessment of antibiotic content in samples without the need for labour-intensive solid-phase extraction and concentration, starting from 1 ng/ml and above (for various types of water mactrices).
Limitations. In this study, only the intact forms of tetracyclines were identified. Separate investigations into the detection of their chemical transformation products and epimerization were not conducted. The presented approach can be applied for analyzing wastewater and assessing the quality of its treatment, where the concentration of tetracycline antibiotics as micro-pollutants may exceed 10 ng/ml.
Conclusion. The proposed analytical method using a single quadrupole mass analyzer can serve as an alternative to the more expensive tandem mass spectrometer, both in terms of acquisition cost and maintenance. Key analytical characteristics that are important for environmental monitoring, such as selectivity and sensitivity, can be enhanced by optimizing the selected ion scanning mode. This was successfully demonstrated in the analysis of tetracyclines in aquatic environments. This approach could serve as a foundation for developing methodologies for detecting pharmaceutical compounds in environmental water samples using a quadrupole mass spectrometer.
Compliance with ethical standards. This study does not require the conclusion of a biomedical ethics committee or other documents.
Contribution:
Streletskiy A.V. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text;
Savostikova O.N. — the concept and design of the study, text writing, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgment. The work was completed within the framework of the state task: reg. No 388-00099-23-02, No 123040500002-3.
Received: October 18, 2023 / Revised: July 24, 2024 / Accepted: October 2, 2024 / Published: January 31, 2025
110-116
REMARKABLE EVENTS AND DATES
117-122
ANNIVERSARY DATES
On the 75th anniversary of Mikhail Petrovich Zakharchenko’s birth
Abstract
24 января 2025 г. исполняется 75 лет со дня рождения и 52 года научно-педагогической и общественной деятельности Михаила Петровича Захарченко – известного отечественного педагога и учёного в области профилактической медицины, медицинской науки и организации здравоохранения, доктора медицинских наук, профессора.
123-124
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77 - 37884 от 02.10.2009.