Vol 100, No 6 (2021)

Introduction. The paper presents the hygienic assessment of the complex physical and chemical factors affecting patients and staff in the different premises of institutional medical organizations.

Material and methods. The comprehensive hygienic assessment of the internal environment of medical institutions was based on three in-patient medical institutions (IMI). The research objects were medical wards, operating rooms, treatment rooms, dressing rooms, physiotherapy rooms, laboratory and diagnostic rooms, utility rooms. The study included measurements of the following parameters: microclimate, noise, electromagnetic fields level in different frequency ranges, ion regime, assessment of natural light, artificial light, insolation, gamma radiation level, measurements of concentrations of carbon dioxide, oxygen, ozone, radon, mercury vapor, and volatile organic compounds.

Results. It is shown that in the hospital environment, a person is affected by complex physical factors. Microclimatic parameters are one of the most significant factors in the hospital environment that require constant monitoring. The control of the given factor is exceptionally substantial in IMI buildings that are not equipped with in-patients an air conditioning system. The highest noise levels were found in physiotherapy rooms and diagnostic rooms. The primary source of noise in medical rooms is working equipment, inwards – conversational speech. Both patients and medical workers were established to receive the main electromagnetic load in diagnostic rooms, laboratory rooms, and physiotherapy rooms. The assessment of the light environment showed that each of the examined rooms was provided with a sufficient level of natural light, and the duration of insolation in the treatment rooms corresponded to hygienic requirements. The highest levels of artificial light were in rooms with led lights. In the air of the examined rooms, light ions of both polarities were either absent, or their content was below the minimum required concentration. Higher concentrations of organic acids and chlorine-containing compounds were found in the surveyed premises of IMO compared to the air in other public buildings. The highest concentration of chemical compounds in the air was observed in wards and diagnostic rooms.

Conclusion. The need for regular monitoring of physical and chemical factors affecting patients and staff in IMI is justified. A list of physical factors for carrying out risk-oriented control in hospital premises, taking into account their functional purpose, is required.

Introduction. It is known that an extraneous odour can cause an adverse emotional reaction of a person and, as a result, reduce the quality of life, which is most likely the reason for a large number of complaints of air pollution from the population. The converse statement about the influence of a person’s emotional state on his/her perception of a smell can also be true. An assessment of the relationship between odour characteristics and emotional state of a person can be investigated in a laboratory olfactory-odorimetric study with the participation of specially trained investigators.

The aim of this study was to analyze in laboratory conditions the impact of odour with high annoyance potential on human feeling, activity, and mood.

Materials and methods. Ten 26–71-years healthy investigators of both genders, who have been psychologically tested with a block of standard psychological questionnaires to evaluate emotional stress expression and quality of life, took part in 2 series of odorimetric studies on the ECOMA T08 olfactometer. During this study, they assessed the odour intensity and annoying effect of multicomponent odorant with isopropyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, and 2-butanethiol largest contribution (unpleasant odour). The influence of the odour on investigators’ feeling, activity, and mood before, during, and after odorimetry was determined using a FAM (feeling, activity, and mood) test card. 

The study results showed the perception of unpleasant smell to be connected with investigators’ age, emotional state at the time of odorimetry, and some indices of the life quality. It is established that the perception of the smell in its tangible concentrations can lead to increased activity and improved mood. At the same time, exposure to the odour in higher concentrations, in most cases, was associated with decreased activity and mood, as well as - for some investigators - with decrease of feelings regardless of age. The given work results comparison with data obtained in the only similar study of odour emissions of chewing gum production carried out with a common methodic approach and on the same equipment, demonstrated a qualitative similarity in the perception of an extraneous odour of different hedonic tone: a connection with age, background emotional state, and quality of life indicators. Moreover, it was revealed odours of different hedonic tones to influenced in the same way on investigators’ activity and mood indices.

Conclusion. Although the obtained results do not allow us to unambiguously conclude which odour strength (concentration of odorous substances) is an unacceptable value for all investigators, the similar research implementation is necessary to study the odour impact on the human adaptation systems. In addition, the data obtained allow us to conclude that all complaints of the presence of an extraneous odour of any character and hedonic tone, are most often justified, deserve careful attention and a quick response from the sanitary services.

Introduction. In many countries, there is an additional group of pollutants – deicing materials (DIM) in winter. Salt-containing DIM is one of the factors for increasing the content of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ in the air. The purpose was to determine the possibility of using desiccators to study the aerosol effect of liquid deicing material, identify the chemical composition in the air at spreading liquid DIM in various ways, and establish the calculated doses for conducting a toxicological experiment to study the DIM aerosol effect on the organism of warm-blooded animals.

Materials and methods. A model experiment was conducted in airtight containers (desiccators) using a liquid DIM that includes NaCl and CaCl₂. All chemical compounds were captured in air pumping from the desiccator into a bubbler tank with bidistilled water and then analyzed using ion chromatography.

Results. When comparing the obtained results of main DIM components contained in the air inside desiccators with the maximum permissible concentrations, the excess of Cl- was detected both for the highest single concentration of 0.1 mg/m³ and for the average daily concentration of 0.03 mg/m³. When applying DIM at a dose exceeding ten times the recommended norms for liquid the DIM, an excess level of the maximum permissible concentration for chlorine (but not for sodium and calcium) is observed.

Conclusion. The method of DIM studying in desiccators is indicative in terms of the choice of concentrations and studying mechanisms of reagent intake for subsequent DIM research conduction using laboratory animals.

The work is devoted to the physiological and hygienic foundations of the safety of activities in the conditions of the changed gas environment and characteristics of the main medical measures for the employees’ protection in a hypoxic environment, the analysis of domestic and foreign data, the study of working conditions in the environment with the reduced oxygen concentration in the air. Investigations were carried out on premises with various technological processes, a changing environment, and a reduced oxygen concentration when employees perform multiple operations. The health status of workers was assessed depending on the time spent in the changed gas environment and the percentage of oxygen. Having analyzed the regulatory documents currently existing in the Russian Federation on the assessment and control of production factors, working conditions in confined spaces with a low oxygen concentration in the air, air environment to maintain health, high performance, and prevent diseases, experts concluded that it is necessary to develop Sanitary Rules and Norms, SanPiN “Sanitary and Epidemiological Requirements for Habitability (Stay) in Confined Spaces with a Low Oxygen Concentration in the Air” because currently there is no document existing specifically on this issue. The literature was searched in the databases Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Global Health, CyberLeninka, RSCI. There were prepared draft sanitary plans and standards “Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the environment with a reduced concentration of oxygen in the air,” which establish sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the environment with a reduced concentration of oxygen in the air, as well as for the organization of control, methods measurements of air components at workplaces and measures to prevent harmful effects on the health of workers. They apply to work conditions in the living environment for all premises with a reduced oxygen concentration in the air.

Introduction. Among the most relevant issues in occupational health is the risk management of the contamination of working air by crystalline silicon dioxide (CSD) in enterprises dealing with its extraction and processing. Cytotoxicity of this silicon type that underlies its fibrogenic action is of particular concern. Thereby, it is an urgent goal to find drugs that increase the body’s resistance to cytotoxic effects of silicon dioxide.

Materials and methods. For the study of changes in the cellular composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and some of its biochemical characteristics, a respirable portion of Pervouralsk quartzite (PQ) containing 98% CSD was inserted intratracheally to outbred white female rats in the form of a suspension of 10 mg of PQ in 1 ml of distilled water in the dose of 1 ml. Student’s t-test was applied for statistical analysis of the obtained data.

Results. PQ sample induces the alveolar phagocytosis response typical for cytotoxic dust expressed by an increase in the total BAL cell count, the number of both alveolar macrophages (AM) and neutrophilic leukocytes (NL), and particularly the NL/AM ratio (which is a reliable comparative index of cytotoxicity). The administration of «Lymphomyosot» considerably reduced this cytotoxic effect of PQ within one month before the intratracheal injection. It showed a decrease in NL/AM ratio and some biochemical indicators of cytolysis in BAL.

Conclusion. There was demonstrated the applicability of «Lymphomyosot» as a precaution against the cytotoxic effect of CSD dust.

Introduction. The nutrition of the Nenets in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia is mainly based on traditional products (raw (thermally unprocessed) local fish and venison), which is the most important factor of survival in the Arctic. Storing up food products for an extended period is not relevant for the Nenets. Climate change and industrial development in the Arctic primarily affect the seasonality of consumption. Changing the calendar of fish and venison harvesting leads to greater use of imported and canned local food, increasing the length of the periods when local food completely disappears from the diet of the Nenets.

Material and methods. During the expeditions to the national villages of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, cross-sectional screening studies were performed, in which 985 Nenets people took part. Nutritional analysis was conducted using the questionnaire method based on an album of portions and dishes. Retrospective information was collected on the seasonality of consumption of reindeer products and local fisheries (the length of the period when unserved fish and venison are available).

Results. The consumption of reindeer and river fishery products is seasonal. The duration of the season of venison consumption was from 150±14.0 to 180±21.0, and raw fish – from 120±14.0 to 200±21.0 days. Despite the high level of consuming reindeer products per season, the average annual consumption of venison by Nenets in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia was 240 g/day/person that is less than in the central regions of the Russian Federation and industrially developed countries. In the studied area, the average annual consumption of fish (171.5 g/day/person) is three times higher than the average consumption in the Russian Federation. However, increased consumption of traditional food is typically only during the season of fishing or slaughtering reindeer. The average annual consumption reduced; during the off-season, the share of easily digestible carbohydrates in the diet increased.

Conclusion. The creation of fish and venison stocks in villages and their year-round sale to the population is a necessary step in ensuring the food security of the Nenets people.

Introduction. Physical activity in a sports mode can have a positive effect not only on physical health but also on mental condition. In this regard, sports motor activity can be considered a factor in increasing resistance to stress and protection from stressors in adolescents of school age.

Materials and methods. 200 students aged 15-17 yrs, formed into two groups, a comparative assessment of the mental factors of the current state was carried out, which is determined by the action of stressors, including the level of anxiety, negative emotional experiences, cognitive activity, stress and stress resistance. The carried out correlation and factor analysis established the relationship between the studied mental factors of the mental state.

Results. A significant decrease in the level of anxiety and negative emotional experiences in educational activity among athletes was determined in comparison with the data of adolescents who were not athletes, while in everyday activities these indicators practically did not differ among adolescents from the studied groups. The effective potential of adaptation to stressful situations in adolescents was evidenced by the data obtained on a decrease in the stress level by 1.4 times and an increase in the level of stress resistance by 1.5 times relative to these adolescents who are not athletes. Correlation analysis indicates the level of resistance to stress and stress to be associated with the level of anxiety and negative emotional experiences. At the same time, it was determined that athletes during the formation of stress, anxiety and negative emotional experiences were chosen to account for only 18% of the variance (F = 12.68, p≤0.0001), while in non-athletes - 44% (F = 42.59, p≤0.0001).

Conclusion. Organized sports activity of adolescents plays an essential role in improving and maintaining mental factors of the current state, such as anxiety, negative emotional experiences, stress and stress resistance.

Introduction. The purpose of the study was to scientifically substantiate the unification of methods for analyzing the morbidity of the population, and comparative analysis of the morbidity of the child population at the interregional level within the framework of social and hygienic monitoring.

Objective. The scientific substantiation of the feasibility of an inter-regional comparative analysis of the incidence of the population in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of management decisions developed as part of social and hygienic monitoring.

Material and methods. A comparative analysis of the incidence in the regions of the Southern Federal District, the occurrence and development of which is associated with air pollution, was carried out. Statistical data processing was performed by linear regression using the Statgraphics and Microsoft Excel software packages. The calculation of the Pearson correlation coefficient r to evaluate the severity of the existing trend in the variation of the variation series and the determination coefficient (R²), taking into account the reliability coefficient p < 0.05. Assessed approaches to the analysis of the incidence of children in the framework of socio-hygienic monitoring in the subjects.

Results. The study revealed the lack of a unified approach to the analysis of the morbidity of the population in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation within the framework of socio-hygienic monitoring, both according to the criteria for determining the priority pathologies for the region, and the duration of the analyzed period. The comparative analysis of the morbidity of the child population at the interregional level showed a significant difference in the dynamics and levels of morbidity from ecologically caused pathologies in adjacent regions, with similar social and climatic parameters. The formation of human health takes place under the conditions of the multicomponent influence of various factors. The etiology of most of the nosological forms, the degree of their dependence on the state of the external environment have been scientifically established. The most determined by the components of the environment, ecologically caused pathologies, the nature of the incidence of which is considered by the authors as a possible manifestation of the impact of a specific factor that has a priority value in the occurrence and development of these diseases.

Conclusions. The study shows the expediency of unifying methods for analyzing the incidence of the population, as well as conducting a comparative analysis of the incidence of the child population at the interregional level within the framework of socio-hygienic monitoring.

Introduction. The article discusses the method of determination of 2-, 3-monochloropropanediol (2-MCPDE, 3-MCPDE) and glycidyl (GE) fatty acids esters in edible vegetable oils and fats by slow alkaline transesterification and GC-MS/MS. Many toxicological data showed these substances to have the potential for human health risks if consumed; in addition, existing determination methods have various limitations. So, there is a need to expand the variety of 2-MCPDE, 3-MCPDE and GE determination methods.

Materials and methods. 2- and 3-MCPD esters, and glycidyl esters in their corresponding free forms were measured by slow alkaline transesterification with GC-MS/MS.

Results. Multiple reactions monitoring mode parameters were optimized. Compared to SIM operating mode, MRM mode improved the selectivity and increased the signal-to-noise ratio. The method was linear in the range of 0.3 mg/kg - 30.0 mg/kg for each analyte. Recovery, tested in this range, was found to be 87.5%-113.6 %.

Conclusion. The method discussed here was based on the ISO 18363-2: 2018 standard. In contrast to the last one, we used tandem chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect analytes and a method of absolute calibration with internal standards to quantitate them. In addition, it is proposed to analyze a spiked sample during the sequence of unknown samples to improve the quality of results.

Moscow, which in the post-reform period became the center of the largest commercial and industrial district and the main railway hub of the Russian Empire, was particularly vulnerable to epidemics. Since the second half of the XIX century, the solution of sanitary issues of urban life and the fight against epidemics were in the competence of the Moscow city government. The epidemic threat contributed to the rapid creation of a permanent organization under the Moscow city government, which included doctors of a sanitary profile. The city has developed a system for fighting the spread of infections, based on a card system for informing the sanitary doctor and investigating each case of the disease. Among the anti - epidemic measures, disinfection of premises, isolation of sick people and family members, and, if necessary, hospitalization were widely used. From expensive and ineffective sporadic actions caused directly by the epidemic, the sanitary organization of the city increasingly moved to broad measures of a preventive nature, which directed its development along the path of specialization, allowing it to cover the sanitary supervision of educational, commercial institutions, the work of urban communications-water supply and Sewerage, developed measures of specific prevention (against typhus, smallpox, etc.) and social support for the population. The high level of improvement of the city and extensive preventive measures, due to the large financial capacity of the Moscow city government, allowed in the early twentieth century. significantly reduce the incidence of infectious diseases and even prevent the widespread spread of cholera in 1908-1909.