Vol 102, No 5 (2023)

Introduction. Ambient air pollution is a widespread and pressing issue. This necessitates the development of methods for estimating and predicting progression of pathologies on the base of evolutionary mathematical models. Adaptation of the theoretical model to practice requires identification and verification procedures in real conditions of contamination of inhaled air with dust particles of various compositions.

The purpose of the work was to investigate regularities of distribution of dust particles with a different disperse, component and morphological structure in the human airways after inhalation from ambient air. The study involved performing a field experiment.

Materials and methods. We accomplished several investigations in 3 zones with different levels and structures of ambient air pollution. Disperse, component, and morphological structures of particles occurring in ambient (inhaled), deposited in various sections of the human airways, in exhaled air and blood were examined by electronic microscopy.

Results. Air quality in zones 1 and 2 did not comply with hygienic standards for suspended particles, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, metal compounds, etc. (up to 3.29 MPCm.s., 3.2 MPCav.s., 2.91 MPCav.y.) and formed increased hazard quotient for manganese, copper, nickel and their compounds, inorganic fluorides, suspended particles (up to 5.48 HQac, 3.42 HQch), respiratory and other hazard indices (up to 5.48 HIac, 8.59 HIch). The degree of sedimentation of small particles (PM_2.5 or less) in different parts of the respiratory tract is uneven, they are able to penetrate into the lower airways and lungs of humans. More than 65% of all the particles deposited in the upper airways had a diameter bigger than 10 µm. PM_2.5 accounted for more than 60 % in sputum in the lower airways and the share of PM_1.5 reached 46.7 %. Particles smaller than 1.5 μm (90.5%) were predominantly recorded in blood biosubstrates, of which up to 88.1% of the particles had a sphericity of 0.9–1.0.

Limitations. Limited degree of precision of location of the examined sections in the respiratory system.

Conclusion. Common deposition regularities are mostly determined by sizes and morphology of dust particles. The component structure of inhaled air has practically no effects on regularities of particle deposition in various sections of the respiratory system; however, it can have substantial influence on types of pathologies progressing in the body. High shares of PM_1.5 identified in inhaled air, the lower airways and blood require considering levels of PM_1.5 and smaller particles in ambient air in settlements to be covered by hygienic standards. In future, the study results will be used in numeric modelling of accumulation of functional respiratory disorders and associated pathologies of other organs and systems and in predicting development of pathologies based on evolution mathematical models.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (meeting protocol No. 2 dated 11.02.2021), and the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (as amended 2013) was carried out.

Contribution:
Zaitseva N.V. — the study concept, organizing and accomplishing a field experiment, text editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Kiryanov D.А. — the study concept and design, writing;
Kleyn S.V. — hygienic assessment, selecting points for accomplishing a field experiment, writing;
Tsinker М.Yu. — the study concept and design, experiment data analysis, description of the results, writing;
Andrishunas А.М. — hygienic assessment, description of the results, writing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The processing of the results of the experiment was carried out with the support of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for the implementation of basic scientific research (project FSNM-2023-0003).

Received: March 9, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. People’s satisfaction with ambient air quality is a significant indicator to estimate effectiveness of activities performed by authorities when they aim to provide sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing. Still, it is hardly ever used in management practices in Russia. Methods for estimating satisfaction are multiple, rather controversial, and this might be the reason for neglecting the indicator.

The aim of this study to substantiate and test the methodology for estimating people’s satisfaction with ambient air quality on a territory included into the ‘Clean Air’ Federal project. 

Materials and methods. The empirical base was provided by the results of an online survey accomplished in a large industrial city in Russia. The total sample included five hundred five people. The applied method was quota sampling as per age and gender. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inductive statistics.

Results. People’s satisfaction with ambient air quality was measured with an integral index that considered its multidimensional essence. It turned out to be rather low. Indirect indicators of satisfaction that usually describe subjective perception of ambient air quality and its specific components cannot always provide an adequate base for making any conclusions about levels of people’s satisfaction. 

Limitations. The study has certain limitation associated with a territory where it has been accomplished; this territory has high anthropogenic burdens on the environment. 

Conclusion. The integral index of people’s satisfaction with ambient air quality has good descriptive capability and can be used to monitor subjective indicators of people’s quality of life.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was accomplished in accordance with the ethical principles stated in The ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market, Opinion and Social Research and Data Analytics, the Ethical Code of the International Sociological Association (ISA), and the Ethical Code of the Russian Society of Sociologists.

Contribution:
Lebedeva-Nesevrya N.A. — concept and design of the study, writing text, editing;
Kornilitsyna M.D. — collection and processing of the material, statistical analysis, writing text, editing;
Barg A.O. — concept and design of the study, statistical analysis, writing text.
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 31, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. In recent years, the use of rare earth elements has been expanding in various innovative research and high-tech industries, which leads to an increase in the volume of their extraction and processing and makes it possible to develop a negative impact on the health of workers under conditions of long-term industrial exposure to rare earth elements with the air of the working area.

The purpose of the work is to study and evaluate the deviations of the biochemical parameters of the lipid spectrum in workers, due to the chemical factors of the technological process of processing raw materials and production of rare metal products.

Materials and methods. The study and evaluation of the content of rare earth elements in the blood of workers, the study of biochemical parameters, statistical analysis, modelling of cause-and-effect relationships were carried out.

Results. Workers exposed to rare-earth elements with the air of the working area (100% of workplaces) showed increased concentrations of holmium, dysprosium, yttrium, neodymium, niobium and terbium in the blood from 1.5 to 2.5 times compared to similar indicators in workers who were not associated with technological process. Elevated levels of total cholesterol, VLDL and triglycerides in blood serum, a decrease in the total antioxidant activity of blood plasma in workers relative to the physiological norm and similar indicators in the comparison group were established. A significant relationship of the identified deviations with an increased blood concentration of niobium, dysprosium and holmium has been proven.

Limitations. The study took into account the aerogenic inhalation effect of rare earth elements on the health of workers involved in the processing of raw materials and production of rare metal products. 

Conclusion. Long-term inhalation exposure to rare earth elements contained in the air of the working area caused changes in biochemical parameters, reflecting the depletion of antioxidant defense resources, inducing disorders of lipid metabolism. The identified negative effects in workers can lead to pro-atherogenic vascular inflammation under conditions of continuing industrial exposure. The obtained results should be taken into account for the development of recommendations aimed at minimizing the negative consequences of the impact of the studied chemical factors of the labour process on the health of workers.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Reservative Technologies for Risk Management of the Population of the Rospotrebnadzor (meeting protocol No. 2 dated 11.02.2021), and the Gelsinki Gelsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (as amended 2013) was carried out.

Contribution:
Zemlyanova M.A. — the concept and design of the study, editing;
Peskova E.V. — the concept and design of the study, collection of literature data, writing text;
Koldibekova Yu.V. — concept and design design, statistical processing of material, writing text;
Nedoshitova A.V. — chemical-analytical study, collection and processing of material;
Ukhabov M.V. — the concept and design of the study, editing.
All co-authors are approving 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.

Acknowledgement. The study was carried out at the expense of the federal budget.

Received: March3, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. Ensuring safe working conditions and preventing health problems in the workplace is a priority measure for maintaining health and extending the working life of the working population.

Materials and methods. The working conditions and chronic non-infectious morbidity (primary, accumulated) of workers in the production of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were studied according to the data of in-depth medical examinations (2017–2021).

Results. Workers of modern production of PAN fibers in the course of their work were shown to be exposed to the combined effects of a complex of chemicals of 1–4 hazard classes, industrial noise, severity and labour intensity, which form an occupational health risk, assessed by hygienic criteria in categories from small (class 3.1) to high (class 3.3). The first ranking places in the nosological structure of accumulated chronic non-infectious morbidity of workers were occupied by dorsalgia (24.23%), essential (primary) arterial hypertension (14.67%), obesity (9.9%) and presbyopia (8.87%). Positive associations of weak age strength with arterial hypertension, obesity, and presbyopia were revealed (Rxy=0.280, Rxy=0.121, Rxy=0.133, respectively). Work experience had a weak positive relationship with the prevalence of presbyopia (Rxy=0.239). A causal relationship was established between a moderate degree of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (dorsalgia, the severity of the labour process (RR=1.893; EF=47.183%; CI=1.192–3.007), a relationship between a small degree of diseases of the eye and its adnexa with exposure acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate (RR=1.46; EF=31.522%; CI=1.970–1.082), which made it possible to attribute these pathologies to work-related diseases.

Limitations determined by the study of the subject of research in the production of polyacrylonitrile fibers of one enterprise.

Conclusion. Despite the modernization that has taken place in the chemical industry, working conditions in the modern production of PAN fibers continue to be harmful, presenting an occupational risk for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases in workers, which determines the relevance of developing evidence-based measures for their prevention.

Compliance with ethical standards. The studies were conducted in compliance with the requirements of confidentiality of personal data, ethical standards and principles of conducting medical research with human participation, set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013). Written consent of the respondents was obtained to participate in the study. The study was carried out with the permission of the local ethical committee of the Saratov Hygiene Medical Research Center of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (Protocol No. 11 of 01.08.2022).

Contribution:
Novikova T.A. — concept and design of the study, text writing, editing;
Migacheva A.G. — material collection and processing, statistical data processing, text writing;
Bezrukova G.A. — editing, final version approval;
Aleshina Yu.A. — material collection and processing, statistical data processing;
Kochetova N.A. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing of data.
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 9, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the population, their diagnosis and prevention are of great importance nowadays. Ferrous metallurgy workers are exposed to occupational risk factors, which, together with a genetic predisposition, can induce and affect progression of diseases of the circulatory system. The Ala16Val (rs4880) polymorphism influences the functioning of the superoxide dismutase enzyme, which catalyzes the first step in the removal of reactive oxygen species, and can be therefore associated with cardiovascular diseases and comorbidities.

Our objective was to study the relationship between SOD2 gene Ala16Val polymorphism and blood pressure, body mass index, and biochemical blood test parameters (total cholesterol and glucose levels) in iron and steel production employees.

Materials and methods. The study cohort included ninety eight 24 to 66 years (mean: 48.8 ± 8.3 years) male patients working in the converter shop of a metallurgical plant. Genomic DNA was isolated using the LumiPure kit (Lumiprobe, Russia) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Genotyping was performed using a QuantStudioTM 3 real-time PCR system (ThermoFisher, USA) and a commercial SNP-Screen kit (Synthol, Russia).

Results. The Val/Val genotype was associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total blood cholesterol.

Limitations. The study limitations include the lack of comprehensive data on working conditions in the sanitary and hygienic characteristics presented. There is no control group in the study, which does not allow assessing the contribution of occupational risk factors to the development of cardiovascular diseases in carriers of the Val/Val genotype. However, our sample can be considered representative, which allows applying the findings to assessing health risks for the adult working-age population involved in ferrous metals production with account for regional features.

Conclusion. We assume that the Val/Val genotype is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the metallurgists due to the reduced antioxidant potential.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers (protocol No. 1 of February 26, 2021). All study participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Bereza I.A., Amromina A.M., Shaikhova D.R. — data collection and processing, statistical analysis, draft manuscript preparation and editing;
Shastin A.S., Gazimova V.G., Astakhova S.G. — data collection, manuscript editing;
Sutunkova M.P. — research conception and design, manuscript 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: March 15, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Working environment psychosocial factors gain the increasing importance for occupational health so far. Based on literature, this review presents an analysis of available studies about relation between stress at the workplace and development or progression of both mental and somatic diseases. The Web of Science, Scopus, MedLine, RSCI, CyberLeninka databases were used to prepare the review. The results of studies have shown pathogenesis and circumstances of the development of various occupational diseases (cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, respiratory, musculoskeletal systems, cancer of various location), which can be affected by occupational stress. Workplace stress also has a significant impact on the central nervous system, including sleep, various mental disorders. The number of people suffering from bad habits increases due to workplace stress as well. Furthermore, the main directions of preventive measures to reduce the level of industrial stress are given.

Contribution:
Fagamova A.Z. — concept and design of the review, data collection and processing, writing text, editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts, approval of the final version;
Karimova L.K. — concept and design of the review, writing text, editing, approval of the final version;
Kaptsov V.A. — concept and design of the review, writing text, editing, approval of the final version;
Gimaeva Z.F. — writing text, editing, approval of the final version;
Shapoval I.V. — editing, approval of the final version;
Muldasheva N.A. — editing, approval of the final version.
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: August 26, 2022 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

The article reveals the main trends in the decline in the health of modern children and adolescents studying in educational institutions, describes signs of violations in the pace and quality of growth and development of children, an increase in the signs of chronic pathologies over schooling. Literature data on the importance of modern school factors in reducing health are revealed, first of all, we are talking about the suboptimal educational environment, mental and emotional overload, physical inactivity, low motivation for a healthy lifestyle. The authors reveal the psychophysiological concept of health as a generalized property of a person to adequately adapt to a wide range of factors of various nature.

The purpose of the study was to analyze current problems and prospects for ensuring the health of children in the context of educational institutions. Particular attention is paid to the School as a complex factor that determines the tension of the child’s regulatory systems, significantly changing his entire lifestyle, making special demands on the “school-significant” properties of the child. There are very common cases of “school maladjustment”, which determine a significant decrease in health parameters by the type of stress disorders. Life determines the importance of a constant increase in the intensity of learning, volume of necessary knowledge and competencies, both formed and implemented in an ever more complex society, including in the context of global computerization and informatization. In the course of receiving schooling experiences the child makes a draft on an ever-increasing influence of socio-psychological stress. An important component of the educational environment is the Teacher, who can both increase the pressure of negative factors and make the learning environment more comfortable, solving the problems of teaching and educating children by adequate and effective means.

Contributions:
Onishchenko G.G. — scientific editing, writing a conclusion;
Voynov V.B. — the concept of the article, the collection of material and its analysis, writing the text.
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 1, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 /Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. The problem of diseases of the respiratory system in children in regions with technogenic atmospheric pollution by chemical agents is relevant. 

The aim of the study was to study the features of the formation of the pathology of the upper respiratory tract, their pathogenetic mechanisms, and causal relationships of clinical, instrumental, and immunological disorders with toxic load in children living under conditions of chronic exposure to phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons of the industrial origin. 

Materials and methods. One thousand one hundred fifty one 4–13 years children were examined, 883 people made up the observation group and lived in the territory with excess of hygienic standards in the air of phenol, formaldehyde, acrolein, o-xylene. The comparison group consisted of 268 children living in the territory of ecological well-being. The prevalence of pathology of the upper respiratory tract (URT), rhinomanometry, laboratory parameters were assessed, correlation-regression relationships of clinical and laboratory parameters and the concentration of chemicals in the blood were determined. 

Results. The study established for the first time the relationship between the concentration of chemical compounds in the blood, laboratory and instrumental indicators in children with URT pathology, living in the territory with excess levels of phenol, formaldehyde, acrolein. The total nasal airflow in the observation group was 10–15% lower than in the comparison group and inversely related to the blood concentration of acrolein, o-xylene, phenol, formaldehyde, and the content of IgG specific to phenol, myelopyroxidase, total number of lymphocytes, subpopulations of CD3⁺CD25⁺ and CD3⁺CD95⁺, integral index of proliferation and frequency of cells with apoptotic bodies and circular notches of the nucleus. 

Limitations. The results of the study can be extrapolated to 4–13 years children, boys and girls. The study did not include young children or adults. 

Conclusion. Characteristic features of the pathology of the upper respiratory tract associated with increased levels of acrolein, o-xylene, phenol and formaldehyde in the blood are a decrease in nasal airflow against the background of specific immune-dependent and non-specific inflammation. To reduce the incidence of URT in children, it is necessary to develop programs that include measures aimed at improving the quality of the environment, therapeutic and preventive measures that increase adaptive capacity.

Compliance with ethical standards. The clinical examination fully complied with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (as amended in 2008) and the National Standard of the Russian Federation GOST-R 52379-2005 “Good Clinical Practice” (ICH E6GCP), approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (No. 2, 2021). Written voluntary informed consent was previously obtained from the legal representatives of the children.

Contribution:
Shcherbakov A.A. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text, editing;
Savinkov M.A. — writing a text, editing;
Nosov A.E. — statistical processing, editing;
Ustinova O.Yu. — the concept and design of the study, 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: April 27, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. Declining volumes of meat production are associated, among other things, with fight against global warming. This unavoidably stimulates the scientific community to look for alternative sources of protein. However, novel foods can pose a potential health threat for consumers.

The aim was to search for data on a potential threat for human health posed by consuming the most widely spread novel foods.

Materials and methods. To achieve that, we accomplished a systematic review of relevant information sources using PRISMA recommendations on how to perform a systemic review of research articles. Overall, we analyzed more than two thousand sources to identify their relevance to the aim of this study; ultimately 64 sources were selected for analysis. 

Results. Within this review, three groups of novel foods of animal origin were identified and considered. They were the most frequently mentioned in studies investigating potential health hazards for humans. We analyzed these potential hazards caused by consuming novel foods; it was established that attention should be paid to probable changes in biological values of protein in a novel food, undeclared or unintended chemicals in it, and hyper-reactivity of the human immune system. Besides, when insect or GM-animal proteins are used as food raw materials, a probability of pathogenic microorganisms in them should not be neglected. A distinctive feature of foods manufactured from GM-animals is estimation of a potential hazard associated with probable transfer of changed genes to the opportunistic gut microflora.

Limitations. The study addressing potential health hazards posed by consumption of new foods considered only ‘new food products’ of animal origin.

Conclusion. The systemic review of relevant information sources was aimed to identify potential health hazards posed by consumption of novel food of animal origin and allowed fulfilling hazard identification as the first stage in health risk assessment.

Compliance with ethical standards. This study did not require any approval of a local committee on ethics since it was accomplished by analyzing data available in open access.

Contribution:
Shur P.Z., Lir D.N. — concept and design of the study, editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Suvorov D.V., Zelenkin S.E. — concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, writing text, editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.
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 9, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) are widely used in nanotechnologies employed in various branches including chemical, food, and medical industry and perfume and cosmetics production. This high demand for Al₂O₃ NPs, given the wide-scale development of nanoindustries, can, in its turn, lead to ambient air pollution that creates public health risks under long-term exposure to it. Given that, it seems relevant to perform profound investigation with its focus on pathogenetic features of toxic effects produced by these nanoparticles and comparatively analyze them with effects produced by a micro-sized chemical analog under inhalation exposure to introduce more effective prevention.

Materials and methods. We examined chemical properties of Al₂O₃, nano- and microparticles (MPs) in an experiment on Wistar rats, comparatively analyzed the results and described pathogenetic features of toxic effects produced by the examined particles under multiple inhalation exposure. 

Results. The examined samples were a nanomaterial judging by such parameters as particle size, shape, surface area, and total pore volume. They differed substantially from their micro-sized analog. Exposure to Al₂O₃ NPs causes more pronounced changes in the behaviour of rats relative to MPs. Under exposure to Al₂O₃ NPs, aluminum concentrations were statistically significantly by 1.62–55.2 times higher in the lungs, liver, brain and blood. The concentration of the examined elements was by 1.55–7.65 times higher in these organs as compared to exposure to the micro-sized particles. Exposure to Al₂O₃ NPs induced changes in biochemical indicators of negative effects against the control (exposure to micro-sized particles). We established higher activity of ALT, AST, AP, LDH, and elevated levels of direct bilirubin, GABA, glutamine acid, and MDA against the same indicators in the control group. Pathomorphological changes were identified in the lungs, brain, heart, and liver under exposure to Al2O3 NPs whereas exposure to the micro-sized analog induced such changes only in the lungs. Exposure to NPs induced more apparent changes in tissue structures in many organs. 

Limitations. The study involved only multiple inhalation exposure to Al₂O₃ NPs and MPs in an experiment on Wistar rats.

Conclusion. Al₂O₃ NPs are more toxic than their micro-sized chemical analog; this is evidenced by a greater number of organs where bioaccumulation occurs, more apparent pathomorphological changes and pathological functional disorders. The study results should be considered when developing hygienic recommendations aimed at preventing and minimizing negative effects produced by Al₂O₃ NPs on human health.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was accomplished in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (ETS No. 123) and requirements of the Local Committee on Ethics of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (the Meeting Report No. 5 issued on January 20, 2021).

Contribution:
Zemlyanova М.А. — the study concept and design, data analysis, writing;
Zaitseva N.V. — the study concept and design, statistical data analysis, editing;
Stepankov М.S. — data collection and analysis.
All the authors have approved the final variant of the article and bear full responsibility for its integrity. 

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The research was granted financial support from the federal budget.

Received: March 31, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. Phenol and its derivatives are widely distributed in the environment. To assess the risk of the negative impact of phenols on human health, data on their content in biological media are needed. 

Purpose of research. Development of a sensitive and selective method for the determination of phenol and catechol in the whole blood by HPLC.

Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on a Shimadzu liquid chromatograph with an RF-20A fluorimetric detector. The efficiency of extraction of analytes from the matrix was checked by methods of liquid and solid phase extraction, QuEChERS. The metrological parameters of the measurement technique were experimentally established. Approbation of the method was carried out during the analysis of whole blood in children living in territories with various technogenic impacts. 

Results. The developed method makes it possible to determine phenol and catechol in whole blood at the level of 0.005–0.5 mg/dm³ with an error of ≤33%. The degree of extraction of phenol from whole blood by the QuEChERS method is 100%, pyrocatechol — 75%. A significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) average group content of phenol and pyrocatechol was established in the whole blood of children living in an ecologically loaded area compared to a conditionally clean area by 2.1 times. 

Limitations. The study of the content of phenol and pyrocatechol in the whole blood in the child population is limited by the number of territories and examined children. To establish the background content of phenol and catechol in the whole blood of the child population at the population level under conditions of environmental stress and outside the zone of anthropogenic influence, it is necessary to conduct more extensive studies in various territories covering a larger number of examined children. 

Conclusion. The developed method can be used in hygienic research to assess the risk of phenols exposure to the health of the child population living in areas with various anthropogenic pressure.

Compliance with ethical standards. The biomedical researche was approved by the local ethics committee at the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies(excerpt from Protocol No. 2 dated February 17, 2014). The studies were carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (1975, as amended in 1983) and the National Standard of the Russian Federation GOST-R 52379-2005 “Good Clinical Practice” (ICH E6 GCP) with written informed voluntary consent from the legal representatives of the children.

Contribution:
Ulanova T.S. — concept and design of the study, editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Karnazhickaja T.D. — writing text, collection and statistical processing of material;
Starchikova M.O. — writing text, statistical processing of material.
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.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 7, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Introduction. The relevance of study arises from the great number of objects of accumulated environmental damage (OAED) in the Russian Federation and the necessity to identify those that are subject to immediate elimination.

The aim of this study was to test methodical approaches to estimating actual OAED, assign them into categories, and rank them as per health risk indicators; also, we generalized the results obtained by estimating 192 objects in 2022.

Materials and methods. Fuzzy set theory was used as a methodical base for analyzing the results. Method makes it possible to analyze a great number of both quantitative and qualitative heterogeneous variables, as one complex. Matrices with each indicator estimated in terms of influence on human health were filled in for each type of objects.

Results. Health risk assessment did not identify any objects that could be assigned into an ‘extremely high risk’ category. 17 OAED (8.9 %) were ranked as ‘high risk’ objects (R=0.76÷0.60). 101 OAED (52.6 %) — as ‘average risk’ objects (R=0.39÷0.58). 72 objects (37.5 %) created ‘moderate risks’ (R=0.45÷0.21). Two objects were considered ‘low risk’ ones (R=0.33÷0.20).

Limitations. Quantitative data describe only 192 examined objects located in specific geological and climatic-geographical conditions.

Conclusion. The study results give evidence that applied methods are relevant, flexible, and provide correct comparative estimations of OAED of various origin, types of accumulated wastes, existence, and locations. The regulatory and legal base for estimation of ОАЕD further development considering health risk indicators for determining priority of its elimination. Targeted studies with elements of human biomonitoring would become an additional factor providing more solid evidence of OAED negative effect on health, which allows determining the relevance of the elimination of the object assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of measures to eliminate objects.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require any statement on compliance with ethical principles.

Contribution:
Zaitseva N.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
May I.V. — concept and design of the study, collecting literature data, text writing;
Kleyn S.V. — text writing;
Guskov А.A., Kolesnikova N.I. — collection and processing of the material;
Maksimova Е.V. — collection and processing of the material, 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.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: March 9, 2023 / Accepted: May 31, 2023 / Published: June 20, 2023

Талантливый учёный и педагог, доктор медицинских наук, профессор Наталья Васильевна Ефимова в мае 2023 г. отметила 60-летний юбилей. Продолжая семейную традицию, Наталья Васильевна в 1986 г. с отличием окончила санитарно-гигиенический факультет Иркутского государственного медицинского института, а в 1987 г. — интернатуру по специальности «эпидемиология».