Hygiene and Sanitation

Introduction. Optimal aeration regime and hygienic standards for the content ingredients in the air of pedestrian pavements and public spaces in close contact with traffic flows on the street and road networks of cities in different climatic regions are ensured by selecting the most rational urban planning solutions in the routing, layout, development. and landscaping of transport communications.Materials and methods. Wind speed measurement, air sampling and chemical analysis of air samples on main street sections in large cities according to commonly accepted methods.Results. Regularities of wind speed transformation and formation of concentration of toxic impurities in the air on urban streets have been established. Optimal variants on layout and landscaping of transport communications for formation of optimal aeration regime and protection of pedestrian zones and public spaces from gassiness are identified. Limitations. The problem statement and choice of research objects are limited to the study of wind speed distribution and concentrations of toxic ingredients in the air of main streets of citywide and district significance.Conclusions. Urban planning measures to form a comfortable aeration regime and ensure high quality of atmospheric air include selection of the route direction taking into account the wind rose, dimensions of the cross profile and optimal planning and design solutions for the development and landscaping of urban roads and streets. The maximum reduction in the concentration of toxic impurities on streets with frontal building occurs at the height of woody plants at the level of the middle of building facades. On the streets of small width with two-sided dense building, comfortable aeration regime and minimum concentrations of ingredients are noted at the formation of landscaping strips of blown structure.Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the Biomedical ethics committee or other documents.Contribution: Balakin V.V. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text; Aleksikov S.V. – the concept and design of the study, editing; Chesnokova O.G. – collection and processing of material, 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: September 4, 2024 / Revised: November 11, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The research aims to analyse the present physical, chemical, and combined methods and practices used to extract pharmaceuticals (PC) from wastewater (WW) starting from different sources, such as municipal waste and hospital release, emphasizing PC manufacturing companies. PC contaminants are primarily persistent organic chemicals not readily eliminated by standard WW treatment (WWT) procedures.Materials and methods. The research examined suggests that enhanced oxidation methods can destroy these persistent medicines. The oxidation introduces harmful oxidation products if these procedures are not carefully controlled. Physical processes, including adsorption of carbon and membrane filtering, can give an obstacle that inhibits both parent substances and harmful products from flowing into treated effluent.Results. A combination of multiple procedures can be an appropriate treatment plan for the persistence and degrading of both parent and conversion chemicals. The benefits of the procedures are integrated through combined technology, resulting in a maximization of pollutant cancellation. Sophisticated oxidation manipulation, either pre-treatment or post-treatment, paired with a natural adsorption or filtering method, is a promising approach.Limitations. However, the best procedures for PCs-containing WW depend on the quality and amount of WW, the PC compound leftovers, and their dangerous consequences.Conclusion. This research underscores the importance of combining enhanced oxidation methods with physical processes like adsorption and membrane filtration to effectively extract PC from WW. While these integrated approaches show promise in degrading contaminants, their success depends on the specific characteristics of the WW and the PC present. Continued exploration and refinement of these methods are essential for addressing PC pollution comprehensively. Future studies should focus on optimizing these strategies across varied WW contexts.Compliance with Ethical Standards. The research adheres to ethical guidelines as set forth by the relevant authorities. All procedures involving human or animal subjects were approved by the appropriate ethics committee, and all necessary consent forms were obtained.Contribution: Dewangan H. — designed and conducted the research, performed the data analysis, and wrote the manuscript; Dewangan T. — contributed to the methodology and helped with data interpretation. 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 that they have no conflict of interest.Acknowledgment. The authors would like to thank Kalinga University for providing the resources and facilities necessary for conducting this research.Received: October 22, 2024 / Revised: November 15, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Near overhead power lines in occupational conditions where the power frequency electric field strength exceeds the maximum permissible limit, the staff used shielding personal protective equipment of the Ep type may have additional thermal load on the body’s functional state type during warm weather.Material and methods. Hygienic assessment of occupational conditions was in the sanitary protection zone of 330 kV, 500 kV, and 750 kV overhead power lines. In addition to power frequency, electric and magnetic fields assessment, there was studied the action of climatic conditions on volunteers using personal protective equipment too. The volunteers’ thermal state was evaluated using the change in the body’s heat content (heat accumulation) during work as integral indicator of the human thermal state.Results. The power frequency electric and magnetic fields hygienic evaluation shown maximum permissible limit to be exceeded by more than two times by electric field, while there was no exceedance of the magnetic field maximum permissible limit during the entire work shift at the study sites. During work with personal protective equipment the significant increase in the heat accumulation indicator was observed when air temperatures exceeded the upper limit of permissible values.Limitations. The study was limited by the environmental conditions and the relatively small sample size of volunteers.Conclusion. The occupational hygienic assessment of power, frequency of electric and magnetic fields showed the electric field maximum permissible limit to be exceeded at both study sites, classifying as harmful (Class 3.1) occupational condition and necessitating the use of personal protective equipment. The assessment of occupational condition class by microclimatic parameters using shielding personal protective equipment the heating environment conditions should consider the workers’ thermal state indicators.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (meeting protocol No. 3 dated 23.03.2022), and the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.Contribution: Perov S.Yu. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, editing; Burmistrova O.V. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, editing; Dremin A.I. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, 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: October 7, 2024 / Revised: November 5, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

In the structure of occupational morbidity, the leading position is occupied by diseases caused by the influence of physical factors, a special place is given to vibration effects. In Russia, vibration disease is highly prevalent, leads to loss of ability to work, development of complications, and disability. The pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of the disease are widely described. All functional disorders are based on morphological ones, in connection with which it is important to study the material substrate of vibration disease. Its main manifestation is considered to be damage to the nervous and muscular systems. The purpose of the investigation is to analyze modern studies of the morphological aspects of the impact of vibration on internal organs, which will allow deepening our understanding of the pathogenesis of vibration disease for the purpose of its effective treatment and prevention.The search and selection of sources was carried out using the following databases: Scopus, MedLine, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, CyberLeninka, and Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI).Conclusion. The review presents an analysis of modern studies of the morphological aspects of the effects of vibration on internal organs, which allows a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. Many researchers are shown to note the presence of a destructive effect of vibration on the nervous system in experimental animals during the contact and post-contact periods. The picture of morphological changes in other organs and systems allows confirming the concept of vibration disease as a systemic process, reveals the main mechanisms of damage, which are characterized by a consistent increase in adverse effects, starting with vascular disorders of the microvascular bed and ending with multiple organ pathology with irreversible changes.Contribution: Bugaeva M.S. – study concept, collection of material, writing the text; Gorokhova L.G. – collection of material, writing the text; Yamshchikova A.V. – editing the text; Gostyaeva E.P. – collection of 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: March 3, 2025 / Revised: March 30, 2025 / Accepted: April 8, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The Kuzbass coal industry is characterized by a high prevalence of occupational and industrial-related diseases. The combined effects of a complex of harmful industrial factors contribute to the formation of associated pathology of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The pathogenetic role of inflammation triggered by the cytokine cascade in the initiation of cardiovascular pathology has been proven. The key role in the development of which is given to cytokines with proinflammatory activity, in particular interleukin-6.Purpose of the investigation was to identify the relationship of the polymorphic locus rs1800795 of the IL-6 gene with echocardiographic parameters in miners with occupational lung dust pathology.Materials and methods. A total of one hundred fifty miners with long-term labour experience were examined. The main group consisted of 110 miners with a previously proven diagnosis of “dust lung pathology”. Then, all patients with an occupational diagnosis were divided into 3 subgroups depending on the carriage of genotypes of the rs1800795 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene. The comparison group included 40 miners working in similar conditions who do not have a proven occupational disease of the respiratory system. All patients underwent genetic studies: genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphic loci of the rs1800795 gene of the IL-6 gene by the method of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction in real time. The morphological and functional state of the heart was assessed using echocardiography according to the standard technique on the Vivid E9 ultrasound system manufactured by General Electric.Results. Carriers of different genotypes of the polymorphic marker C(-174)G of the IL-6 gene had significantly different early filling rate and left ventricular ejection fraction. The minimum values of both echocardiographic parameters were found in the group of miners with dust lung pathology, who were owners of the heterozygous GG genotype of the C(-174)G polymorphic marker of the IL-6 gene. Differences in the structural and functional parameters of the heart were revealed between miners with dust lung pathology with different genotypes of the rs1800795 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene and patients of the comparison group. The holders of all three genotypes showed a significant increase in the average pressure in the pulmonary artery compared with the group of individuals without occupational pathology. The rate of early filling of the left ventricle, its ejection fraction, as well as the ratio of the rate of early and late filling of the left ventricle were maximum in the comparison group, having statistically significant differences with homozygotes for the G-allele among the miners with occupational lung pathology.Limitations. The study was limited by the number of miners undergoing in-depth periodic medical examination at the Clinic of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. Conclusion. The results of the study indicate a predisposition of miners with occupational pathology of the bronchopulmonary system, owning the G/G genotype of the rs1800795 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene to the formation of left ventricular dysfunction. Studying the genetic predisposition to the development of structural and functional disorders of the heart among certain occupational groups will allow timely identifying workers with a high risk of chronic heart failure. The revealing initial myocardial changes based on genetic analysis will facilitate timely prevention aimed at reducing the incidence of possible cardiovascular complications against the background of occupational pathology of the respiratory system in coal mine workers.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (protocol of the meeting No. 4 dated November 18, 2021) conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association as amended 2013. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.Contribution: Kazitskaya A.S. – concept and design of the study, statistical processing, writing the text; Korotenko O.Yu. – collection of material, editing; Yadykina T.K. – collection of material and data 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. Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.Received: January 22, 2025 / Revised: February 24, 2025 /Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The study of various forms of adolescent addictive behaviour and the factors that form it, is considered a key element of the public health strategy aimed at reducing the level of addiction among young people.The purpose of the study is to establish risk and protective factors for the development of addictive behaviour in modern adolescents, on the basis of which to develop preventive measures to reduce its prevalence among young people.Materials and methods. Educational, social and hygienic, psycho-emotional risk, and protective factors, forms of addictive behaviour were studied in two hundred ninety eight adolescents aged of 11–14 years using standardized questionnaires and methods.Results. Leading risk factors for the formation of addictive behaviour in modern adolescents are shown to be of high intensity of academic work in terms of intellectual and emotional stress; 44.0% of adolescents living in single-parent families, low material wealth of 48.6% of adolescents’ families; development of hostility in 20% of girls and 31.7% of boys, aggressiveness in 25% of girls, clinical anxiety in 14.1% of girls and 12.5% ​​of boys, subclinical depression in 15.8% of girls and 12% of boys, stress in 14.9% of girls; as well as the use of maladaptive coping strategies in the form of increasing self-esteem among 39.3% of girls and searching for the guilty among 27.3% of boys. It was found that 12.9% of girls and 14.7% of boys consumed alcohol up to once a month, 8.6% of girls and 10% of boys tried electronic cigarettes, and 2.3% of boys smoked traditional cigarettes regularly; 23.1% of girls and 13.9% of boys were registered as having a tendency to develop Internet addiction, 1.3% of boys had Internet addiction.Limitations. The sample of adolescents studying in general education institutions of the city of Orenburg limits the possibility of generalizing the results to other regions and types of educational institutions.Conclusion. Based on the identified risk factors and protective factors, where the priority factors were related to the social and living environment (72.9%), family (69.0%), personal qualities (60.9%) and educational environment (45.8%), preventive measures were developed, the introduction of which in educational institutions will ensure favourable conditions for the harmonious development of adolescents and the formation of healthy and adaptive behaviour patterns in them, helping to reduce the prevalence of addictive behaviour among young people.Compliance with ethical standards. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Orenburg State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Protocol No. 322 dated September 6, 2023) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants were recruited voluntarily and provided written informed consent.Contributions: Setko N.P. – concept and design of the study, editing; Zhdanova O.M. – concept and design of the study, writing the text; collection and processing of material; statistical processing; Setko A.G. – concept and design of the study, 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 explicit and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.Funding. The study had no sponsorship.Received: September 27, 2024 / Revised: October 10, 2024 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The foundations for preserving and strengthening the health of the working-age population are laid in childhood, including by stimulating behaviour aimed at developing healthy eating habits.Materials and methods. To assess the level of awareness of the working population and school-age children on healthy nutrition issues, a survey was conducted among three hundred seventy four employees of three industrial enterprises and 532 schoolchildren aged of 7–17 years.Results. 25.3% of employees of industrial enterprises consider their food healthy, only 31.4% of employees visit the canteen of their enterprise every day. An analysis of the frequency of consumption of products classified as restricted consumption, which should be minimized or excluded from the daily diet of a person committed to a healthy diet showed that processed meat products (smoked meats, sausages) were consumed daily by more than 70% of children and adolescents and 57.5% of adults. Sugary carbonated drinks and / or more than 10 tablespoons of sugar daily were included in the diet in more than 50% of 7–11 years children, as they grow older, the frequency of consumption decreases almost by 2 times (adolescents aged of 15–17 years – 27.6%, adults – 26.2%). Almost a third of children aged of 7–11 years (31.3%) often consumed fast food products, by the age of 15–17, the share of fast food consumers decreases to 10%.Limitations. They are associated with an uneven sample of respondents by gender, a significant predominance of men’s opinions, which makes it difficult to compare between enterprises and the results of the survey of children.Conclusion. The conducted analysis indicates a lack of awareness of both schoolchildren and employees of industrial enterprises in matters of healthy nutrition.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov (extract from the protocol dated April 3, 2024 No. 4).Contributions: Meltser A.V. – the concept and design of the study, text, editing, final approval of the article; Iakubova I.Sh. – the concept and design of the study, the choice of analytical methods, text, editing; Suvorova A.V. – the concept and design of the study, the choice of analytical methods, text, editing, statistical analysis; Erastova N.V. – literature review, data collection and processing, analysis of the results, text, editing, final approval of the article; Volochkova A.I. – literature review, database formation, analysis of the results. 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: October 29, 2024 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. It is relevant to investigate expression of CD11a+ and CD309+ markers under combined exposure to benzo(a)pyrene and cold factor in an in vivo experiment in terms of modelling likely effects and verifying mechanisms of the developing of disorders of endothelial immune regulation caused by biological exposure to benzo(a)pyrene in northern areas.Materials and methods. An in vivo subchronic experiment was performed using forty eight nonlinear laboratory mice divided into 4 groups according to the conditions of factor loading (oral biological exposure to benzo(a)pyrene at an average daily dose of 0.175 mcg/kg∙day; exposure to cold, average daily air temperature 9.9±2.6 °C). The content of CD11a+ and CD309+ lymphocytes was determined by flow cytofluorometry.Results. The results of oral subchronic biological exposure to benzo(a)pyrene at a dose of 0,175 µg/kg×day under cold stress in an in vivo experiment made it possible to establish CD309+ lymphocytes overexpression against the background of CD11a+ cells decrease (OR=5.00–22.50; RR=2.63–4.20; p=0.001–0.042). An increase in CD309+ lymphocytes content by 62% relative to the control is mainly associated with biological exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (OR=11.25 (1.65-76.85); RR=2.86 (1.20–6.86); p=0.026) while a decrease in CD11a+ lymphocyte content is associated with cold stress (OR=11.00 (1.77–68.35); RR=3.50 (1.22–10.05), p=0.001). Combined exposure to benzo(a)pyrene and cold forms synergistic, more than additive effects in the cellular immune profile (OR=14.67–22.50; RR=3.15–4.20; p=0.001–0.042).Limitations. The limitations are related to quantitative parameters of the sample, limited choice of exposure factors, and the need for subsequent confirmation of obtained results. Conclusion. Thus, the imbalance of adaptive cellular immune profile identified in in vivo models (CD309+ activation, CD11a+ deficiency) reflects the launch of negative inflammatory and proliferative scenarios associated with cardiovascular diseases. This makes it possible to verify mechanisms of cold and chemical (benzo(a)pyrene) stress formation and recommend CD11a+ and CD309+ lymphocyte clusters to be used as biomarkers of the effect for biological exposure to benzo(a)pyrene in northern areas.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was conducted in compliance with the requirements of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (ETS No. 123) and the Local Ethics Committee of the Federal Research Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (The meeting protocol No. 2 dated January 17, 2022).Contribution: Dolgikh O.V. — study concept and design, editing the text; Nikonoshina N.A. — data collection and analysis, writing the text. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and for the approval of its final version.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.Received: February 17, 2024 / Revised: March 6, 2024 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The perinatal period largely determines the state of human health throughout his subsequent life. Congenital malformations and pathological states combined under the common term “great obstetrical syndromes” (preeclampsia, premature birth, death of the fetal egg or delay in its development) make a significant contribution to infant mortality, affecting the demographic situation. The frequency of these pathologies increases in the regions with high anthropogenic load.Materials and methods. A survey of one hundred thirty one pregnant woman lived in Novokuznetsk was conducted. Out of 93 examined women with “great obstetrical syndromes” there were 39 women with preeclampsia, 16 ones with intrauterine fetal growth retardation, 38 women who gave birth to premature babies. 11 women who gave birth to babies with congenital malformations and 27 women with a standard pregnancy. Using the polymerase chain reaction method, variants of the CYP1A1*2A gene of the first phase of the xenobiotic biotransformation system were identified in all subjects examined.Results. The AG genotype of the CYP1A1*2A (rs4646903) gene was shown to be reliably associated with the development of “great obstetrical syndromes”: intrauterine growth retardation (χ2 = 10.64; OR = 20.22), prematurity (χ2 = 6.68; OR = 10.59), preeclampsia (χ2 = 3.04; OR = 5.69) – and congenital malformations of the fetus (χ2 = 7.3; OR = 14.86). No connection was found between the AA genotype and these pathologies.Limitation. The study was of a pilot nature, so it is advisable to increase the sample.Conclusion. The identified genotypes can be considered as markers of reproductive disorders and used in assessing individual predisposition to the development of “great obstetrical syndromes” and congenital malformations in planning and clinical pregnancy care in women living in ecologically unfavourable regions.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases” (Protocol of the Meeting № 3, § 2 dated November 17, 2022) conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association “Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects” as amended 2013. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.Contribution: Gulyaeva O.N. – concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, editing; Ulanova E.V., Zagorodnikova O.A., Zoteeva A.I. – collection and processing of material; Zhukova A.G. – concept of the study, editing; Renge L.V. – concept of the study, editing. All co-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: December 27, 2024 / Revised: February 20, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The multiplicity of the factors of the industrial environment, long-term affecting the body in workers in the aluminum industry due to the peculiarities of the technological production of aluminum is related to a high compilation in the air of electrolysis buildings of multi-component suspensions, the predominant of which are fluorides, which have a systemic effect on homeostasis. The development of arterial hypertension is determined by a complex of hemodynamic, neurohormonal, metabolic, and environmental factors associated with individual risk. Mini-satellite NOS3-VNTR, intron 4 of the gene of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is the most important biological mediator, the contribution of which to the development of cardiovascular pathology is undoubtedly high. Evaluation of the early manifestation of hypertension is of priority importance and associated with the definition of genotypes of predisposition / resistance to its development in metallurgists under the conditions of fluoride intoxication.Materials and methods. One hundred seventy three metallurgists were examined: 92 cases with a proven diagnosis of chronic fluorine intoxication, 81 person with individual signs of fluorine exposure to the skeleton (comparison group). VNTR4 polymorphism of the eNOS3 gene was analyzed using the PCR method, and their relationship with the development of arterial hypertension against the background of chronic fluoride intoxication was assessed.Results. The associative relationship of the VNT4 polymorphic locus genotypes with fluoride intoxication and concomitant arterial hypertension in non-ferrous metallurgy workers was studied. The distribution of genotypes corresponded to the law of equilibrium populations. Genotype 4a/4a is associated (χ2=9.4810; OR=3.233; p=0.002076) with the development of fluoride intoxication. Homozygote for allele b (4b/4b) is associated with resistance to the studied pathology (χ2=13.5461; OR=0.291; p=0.000233). The level of individual heterozygosity increases: genotype 4a/4b is significantly associated with the development of arterial hypertension against the background of chronic fluoride intoxication (p<0.05).Limitations. The study is limited by the number of people examined, it is advisable to increase the sample and population control.Conclusion. The identified genotypes act as markers of the risk of developing hypertension against the background of fluoride intoxication, which makes it possible to recommend genetic testing when forming risk groups to avoid early labour losses in production.Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases” (Protocol of the Meeting N 4, § 2 dated November 18, 2021), and was conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association (2013 edition). All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.Contribution: Yadykina T.K. – research design, collection and processing of material, statistical analysis, writing the text, editing; Kazitskaya A.S. – collection and processing of the material; Gulyaeva O.N. – collection and processing of the material; Lusina F.A. – collection and processing of the material; Panev N.I. – collection and processing of clinical data. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.Dedication. The article is dedicated to the memory of the scientist-geneticist Nikolay Ismailovich Gafarov, PhD (Biology), head of the population genetics laboratory of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, whose ideas inspired the authors to conduct this study.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.Received: March 6, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Despite efforts to find ecological methods for plant protection, the level of the use of chemical protection products are used very widely. Even after the establishment of the dangerous consequences of the use of organochlorine pesticides (OChPs), exclusion from the list of permitted pesticides in a number of countries, their production and use is still taking place. Information about the residual amounts of OChPs in food, as well as human biological tissues, is alarming. This represents a direct potential risk to human health.The purpose of the research is to develop a rapid gas chromatographic method for the determination of DDT, DDD, DDE and HCCH isomers in rice based on the extractive freezing-out as a sample preparation step.Materials and methods. The object of experimental study is grain rice, including one with OChPs additives. Gas chromatographic determination of toxicants was carried out after extractive freezing-out into a mixture of acetonitrile with ethoxyethane under the centrifugation of the sample (ECS) and by the sulfuric acid removal of co-extractives.Results. The efficiency of extraction of OChPs by the ECS method from rice grinding as the stage of sample preparation for gas chromatographic examination has been studied and confirmed. Purification with sulfuric acid is proposed for removing co-extractive components from the resulting extract. The results confirming the accuracy and low error in the determination of toxicants were obtained.Limitations. Grain rice was studied in the work. Rice products have not been studied.Conclusion. A technique has been created for the gas chromatographic determination of residual amounts of DDT, DDD, DDE, and HCCH isomers in rice with preliminary isolation of analytes by extractive freezing-out and sulfuric acid removal of co-extractive substances. The field of application of the development is sanitary and hygienic quality control of food products. The method provides the determination of OChPs in a sample weighing 3 g at a level below the established MPC with a relative error not exceeding 20%. Sample preparation is carried out at subzero temperatures. The procedure is simple, has a low cost, consumption of reagents, materials. The duration of the sample preparation stage is less than 1 hour.Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee and other documents.Contribution: Bekhterev V.N. – concept and design of the study, planning and implementation of experimental studies, statistical processing of the array of results, analysis of literary data, discussion of the results and writing the manuscript of the article, approval of the final version of the text; Mishchenko I.V. – discussion of the results, editing, approval of the final version of the text; Komarova N.S. – approval of the final version of the manuscript of the article, 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 versionConflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.Received: October 6, 2024 / Revised: November 11, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Provision of the country population with qualitative drinking water, safety and availability of water resources for all section of the population are among top priorities of social policy and a solid ground for people’s welfare and health.The aim of this study. To develop, optimize, and validate a high-sensitive chromato-mass-spectrometry method for quantification of potentially hazardous chemicals (benzene and ethylbenzene) to be used within activities aimed at control of human-induced contamination in drinking water. Materials and methods. The study was accomplished with using a gas chromatographer of Chromatek-Kristall series with mass selection detector. A standard solution (for benzene 0.0088 µg/cm3 and ethylbenzene 0.0087 µg/cm3) was used to create calibration characteristics of benzene and ethylbenzene; methanol and sodium sulfate were used as reagents.Results. Effective division of benzene and ethylbenzene in the standard sample was achieved at the capillary column ZB-624 for gas chromatography.To fully extract benzene and ethylbenzene from water samples, we tested parameters of a method which could be used to prepare analysis of the equilibrium vapour phase. We investigated influence of temperature and time required for achieving inter-phase equilibrium of benzene and ethylbenzene form a water sample on sensitivity of vapour phase analysis. Highly effective extraction of benzene and ethylbenzene form water samples (97.7–100% respectively) was achieved by using the method for equilibrium vapour phase analysis: sample heating temperature in the vapour feeder is 80 °C; the time required to reach inter-phase equilibrium is 20–30 minutes and 2 grams of sodium sulfate were used in the process.Metrological assessment of the method was carried out in accordance with the requirements of OFS.1.1.0012.15 Validation of analytical methods.Limitations. There are no limitations in these studies.Conclusion. The developed chromatograph mass spectrometric method for monitoring technogenic pollution of drinking water with monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and ethylbenzene) made it possible to expand the range of measured concentrations (from 0.0005 to 0.1 mg/dm3). Contribution: Nurislamova Т.В. – study concept, research advice, relevance and conclusions; Popova N.А. – data collection and analysis, writing the section ‘results’; Maltseva О.А. – relevance writing the sections ‘results and discussion’, ‘conclusion’; Chinko Т.V. – data collection and analysis, writing the section ‘results’. All authors bear full responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of its final version.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.Received: February 07, 2025 / Revised: March 28, 2025 / Accepted: April 8, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

The study of combined effects of chemicals and their assessment is one among urgent issues of hygiene and preventive medicine. Chemicals with variable chemical composition that persist in environmental objects produce simultaneous effects on human health; given that, it is a challenge for researchers to assess combinations of chemicals with variable composition. To identify key areas of development and improve the methodology for addressing it, it is necessary to systematize knowledge as regards studying patterns and features of combined toxicity. This review presents the most significant, in terms of their science intensity and effectiveness, methodological approaches to the assessing effects produced by a mixture of chemicals, which have been developed over the past thirty years. This review focuses on data provided in Russian and foreign scientific literature sources, which are indexed in the search engines eLIBRARY, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and international scientific organizations and devoted to methods for assessing combined effects of chemicals (fifty four publications). In general, existing competency models for assessing combined toxicity of substances have reached a certain level of knowledge. At present, established interactions of substances (antagonism, synergism and its special cases – potentiation and emergence) tend to be more complex than simple summation; risks that cause adverse consequences of combined exposure are calculated; multivariate regression and neural network models are used to improve the quality, adequacy, and objectivity of assessment. However, despite the existing general scientific achievements in this area of ​​research, there is an urgent need for further development of methodological approaches to quantitative assessment of additional risk caused by combined effects. Expanding scientific foundations will allow further improving the methodology for hygienic regulation over levels of chemicals in their various combinations in environmental objects. This is critically important for updating the system of state regulation aimed at minimizing risks and health harm, as a key component of the Russian Federation sovereignty.Contribution: Zaitseva N.V. – study concept and editing; Zemlyanova M.A. – study design, editing; Koldibekova Yu.V., Teterina D.M. – collection and analysis of literary data, 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: February 7, 2025 / Revised: March 14, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The activities of coal enterprises have an adverse effect on the ecological balance, leading to the withdrawal of significant territories from agricultural lands, degradation of natural resources, and air pollution, which affects the health of the population.The study aim was to assess the risk to public health in the case of chronic inhalation of air pollutants from stationary sources in a coal-mining city (using the example of the city of Prokopyevsk in the Kemerovo region).Materials and methods. The work used data on gross emissions into the atmosphere of Prokopyevsk from stationary sources and average annual concentrations of pollutants in 2019–2023 from the official report. Maximum permissible concentrations of atmospheric pollutants for 2019–2020 were determined in accordance with GN 2.1.6.3492–17, for 2021–2023 – in according to the Sanitary Rules and Norms 1.2.3685–21. The risks to public health in case of chronic inhalation of toxicants were calculated on the base of the Guideline R 2.1.10.1920–04. The carcinogenic risk was assessed on the base of Guideline R 2.1.10.3968–23.Results. The decrease in gross emissions of pollutants into the city’s atmosphere from 2019 to 2023 amounted to 6,456 thousand tons (or 32.6%). The maximum permissible concentrations of suspended solids were found to be exceeded by 1.2–2.2 times, as well as nitrogen dioxide by 1.1 times in 2023, benz(a)pyrene – by 1.2 times in 2019 and 1.3 times in 2022, carbon monoxide – by 1.2 times in 2021. The hazard coefficient for chronic inhalation exposure to suspended matter (3.8) corresponded to a high risk level in 2019 and an alarming level in 2020–2023 (2.4–1.8). Alarming risk levels were also identified for exposure to nitrogen dioxide, benzo(a)pyrene, and carbon monoxide. The hazard index in 2019 was 7.1 (high risk), while in 2020–2023, the hazard indices ranged from 4.7 to 5.4 (alarming level). The respiratory hazard indices (3.4–5.1), corresponding to the alarming risk level during 2019, 2021–2023, were determined by the influence of suspended solids, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. The total individual carcinogenic risk was at an acceptable level.Limitations were consisted of using official data on gross emissions and average annual concentrations of substances in the work.Conclusion. The results of the assessment of health risks from exposure to atmospheric toxicants should be used to optimize management solutions to improve the environmental situation in the city.Compliance with ethical standards. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.Contribution: Kislitsyna V.V. – concept and design of the study, literature review, writing the text, editing; Surzhikov D.V. – writing the text, editing; Likontseva Yu.S. – collection and processing of material; Shtaiger V.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 versionConflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.Received: December 27, 2024 / Revised: March 3, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

1 апреля скоропостижно ушла из жизни Людмила Григорьевна Подунова – известный гигиенист и историк медицины, доктор медицинских наук, профессор. Авторитет Л.Г. Подуновой как учёного, организатора здравоохранения и науки, врача и наставника возможно характеризовать лишь в превосходной степени.