Introduction: In the context of developing market relations and digitalization of the economy, effective consumer protection takes on special significance.

 Objective: A comprehensive analysis of trends in violations of mandatory requirements for consumer protection in the Russian Federation in 2021–2024 and the impact of the ongoing market surveillance reform on their structure and dynamics.

 Materials and methods: We have analyzed reporting data of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) for 2021–2024 using comparative, statistical, and formal legal methods.

 Results: We established that between 2021 and 2024, the number of market surveillance activities and identified violations in the field of consumer protection increased by 9.1 and 7.6 times, respectively, primarily due to a 50.5-fold increase in the number of indirect checks. In 2024, 20,600 episodes of harm to life, health and property of consumers due to violations of consumer protection legislation were registered against 10,900 in 2021 demonstrating a 1.9-fold increase. We found a trend toward formation of new zones at risk of violations in digital segments (online trade and services). We also noted the predominance of violations of special regulations in trade (+90 %) and of basic provisions of the Consumer Protection Law in the service sector.

 Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of planning market surveillance activities using a risk-based approach and developing indicators of risks of violations of mandatory requirements for consumer market segments with a high number of violations per check and high economic damage per episode of harm to consumer’s life, health and property. It is relevant to develop a scientific and methodological basis for sequential implementation of the risk-based model for market surveillance.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) keeps worsening public health making it important to assess TB burden using more sensitive methods than traditional epidemiological indicators.

 Objective: To estimate the TB burden using the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

 Materials and Methods: The total burden of tuberculosis was calculated as the sum of years of life lost due to TB death (YLL) and years lost due to disability (YLD) in Russia in the years 2016 and 2023 based on statistical forms and data of the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).

 Results: The TB burden in Russia is primarily due to premature mortality, with YLL being twice as high as YLD in 2016 for the total population and men and 1.4-fold for women. The YLL was the highest among men aged 25–59, particularly among those aged 35–44, equaling 450.2 and 165.6 per 100,000 population of the same age and sex group in 2016 and 2023, respectively. The YLL decreased between 2016 and 2023 by 2.6 times for the whole and male population and by 2.7 times among women, compared to 1.8 and 1.9-fold declines in YLD. A slower decline in the YLL is observed for those aged 45 and older, indicating a buildup and shift in the TB burden toward older age groups. Premature TB mortality persists among children aged 0–14, predominantly among girls, and with a slower decline among boys.

 Conclusions: The study results should be taken into account when developing targeted TB programs in Russia and improving TB prevention in vulnerable age groups, i.e. among children and adults over 45 years of age, where the reduction in the TB burden is noticeably slower in terms of YLL.

Introduction: The birth rate crisis in most regions of the Russian Federation gives relevance to the tasks of assessing contraceptive behavior and citizens’ attitudes toward contraception, and of searching for effective means of their correction.

 Objective: To establish the factors associated with the attitude toward contraception among women living in the Arkhangelsk Region, including those with a history of induced abortion.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 629 women aged 18–35, of which 130 (20.7 %) reported having induced abortions in their medical history. A validated version of the Kyes (1998) Contraceptive Attitude Scale was used as a measuring tool of the normalized contraceptive attitude score. We then applied a multiple binary logistic regression analysis to establish the factors associated with a positive (> 60 points) attitude of women to contraception given their history of induced abortion.

Results: The median normalized contraceptive attitude score was 65.6 (53.1; 77.3) points in the group of women with the history of induced abortion and 72.0 (59.4; 82.0) in those without it. Given the history of abortion, the positive attitude toward contraception was associated with a higher level of education, having children in the family, planning to have the first (or subsequent) child, and having multiple sexual partners in the past. Contraceptive use, including that under the influence of a sexual partner, was associated with a more negative attitude toward contraception.

 Conclusions: Demographic characteristics and parameters of social status, reproductive attitudes, sexual and contraceptive behavior associated with the attitude of women of reproductive age toward contraception should be taken into account when developing regional programs for improving reproductive attitudes and increasing the birth rate.

Introduction: The incidence of enterovirus infections in the Russian Federation has been increasing recently. Effective detection of enteric viruses in water from various sources as a risk factor for disease transmission is important for its control.

 Objective: To study Enterovirus contamination of water environment as a risk factor for enteric diseases.

 Materials and methods: In 2014–2023, institutions of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) collected 295,630 water samples from centralized and decentralized water supply systems, surface water sources, and wastewater. The samples were tested for enteric viruses using the culture method and nucleic acid amplification. The results were statistically analyzed using the R software.

Results: We observed a statistically significant trend toward a decrease in the Enterovirus contamination rate of surface water bodies (r = –0.86, p = 0.002) and wastewater (r = –0,91, p < 0,001). A univariate linear regression analysis did not reveal a statistical effect of such factors as contamination of centralized water supply, decentralized water supply, surface water sources, and wastewater on the incidence of enteric infections.

 Conclusions: The decrease in the level of drinking water contamination with enteroviruses demonstrates the effectiveness of preventive measures taken in the Russian Federation as part of the enteric disease surveillance and the relevance of further studies of infectious disease rates and continuous monitoring of biosafety of various water bodies.

Introduction: When conducting environmental public health surveillance, the key areas for preventing the spread of waterborne diseases include microbiological testing aimed to assess and predict the quality of surface sources for drinking water and of recreational water bodies and watercourses.

Objectives: To analyze the results of bacteriological testing of the Lower Don water samples, to establish long-term pollution trends and seasonality, and to compare the accuracy of medium-term forecasting based on regression modeling and artificial neural networks.

 Materials and methods: We used the results of bacteriological testing of 540 river water samples taken in the water area of the city of Azov, Rostov Region, in 2005–2020 for pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae (Salmonella spp.), opportunistic pathogens (Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and general, thermotolerant and glucose-positive coliforms. Specially created software, as well as IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0 and Matlab R2021a with the Neural Network Toolbox module were used for statistical data analysis.

Results: We established high levels of bacterial water pollution in the lower reaches of the Don River with opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms posing a high epidemic risk of the occurrence and spread of intestinal infections. We also observed rising trends in the density of thermotolerant coliforms, including Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in river water and their seasonal fluctuations.

 Conclusions: Compared to extrapolative forecasting based on regression analysis, the use of neural network models in prospective analysis enables more accurate medium-term forecasts of bacteriological quality parameters of river water. Identification of their seasonal fluctuations facilitates determination of time spans with a high probability of the spread of waterborne infectious diseases.

Introduction: The territory of the Russian Federation is characterized by a significant number of industrial enterprises, all emitting hazardous air pollutants. The study of spatial distribution of their combinations is relevant for identifying regional characteristics and areas at risk of their spread and human exposure.

 Objective: To conduct a spatial cluster prioritization analysis of the distribution of combinations of hazardous airborne chemicals in the regions of the Russian Federation.

 Materials and methods: The analysis included clustering of the regions by vectors that determine economic development and health of the local population; establishing the optimal number of clusters and comprised regions using the elbow method and k-means. The dynamics of non-compliant ambient air samples was assessed based on data of Rosstat Reporting Form No. 18 for 2014–2024 collected and processed by the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. Criteria for priority setting included hazard class 1 or 2 of the chemical, its mode of action, and the proportion of exceedances.

Results: We identified five clusters consisting of two to 32 regions having similar characteristics. Large-scale distribution of combinations of airborne chemicals with uneven local zones was established in 59 regions, mainly of the third and fifth clusters, inhabited by almost 66.3 % of the population of the country. The maximum (up to 6.2-fold) increase in the frequency of non-compliant air samples with threshold exceedances of benzo[a]pyrene, fluorine, and oxides of aluminum, copper, and manganese was established in the Sverdlovsk, Kemerovo, Chelyabinsk, and Irkutsk regions, Altai, Krasnoyarsk, and Perm territories.

 Conclusions: We identified clusters comprising 59 densely populated regions with local zones of distribution of two to seven combinations of hazardous air pollutants and a significant proportion of exceedances reaching 20.9 %. Priority was given to seven regions requiring urgent regulatory measures to prevent and mitigate adverse health effects in the exposed population.

Introduction: Almost all teachers encounter voice problems in their practice. Voice disorders can lead to limitations and, in some cases, complete loss of professional performance. Understanding the risk factors and prevalence of voice disorders is of great practical importance for developing recommendations for preserving the functions of the vocal apparatus.

 Objective: To develop an approach to assessing potential risk factors for voice disorders using secondary school teachers as an example.

 Materials and Methods: We conducted a survey of 61 schoolteachers from St. Petersburg using an anonymous questionnaire containing 38 questions. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and Statistica 12.0.

 Results: Based on the example of secondary school teachers, we developed the approach to assessing potential risk factors for voice disorders that takes into account such contributors as 20 or more years of experience, teaching in a noisy environment, having less than 20-minute breaks between classes, the need to raise the voice, working with a sore throat, and having certain chronic diseases (diseases of the upper respiratory tract, allergies, diseases of the endocrine system, and/or gastroesophageal reflux).

 Conclusions: The risk-based approach to developing effective measures to prevent voice disorders in schoolteachers will help reduce sickness absence rates and prevent permanent loss of ability to work, ensure optimal performance and quality of life. Our findings can form the basis for further research aimed to clarify the category of occupational risk determined by the class of working conditions and to develop a quantitative model for assessing the risk of voice disorders.

Introduction: The railway network development will obviously lead to greater noise loads on people living in areas next to railways thereby resulting in a growing number of complaints about railway noise.

The aim of the study is to develop practical approaches to determining the equivalent noise level during the monitoring period in the railway-influenced area.

 Materials and methods. Noise levels were measured during the passage of suburban electric trains and Lastochka-type electric trains. Measurements were taken separately for each type of electric train and each direction of travel. Each sound event was measured during 2 minutes. Background noise was measured for not less than 15 minutes or until equivalent noise reached its stable level. The study provides formulas for calculating an average noise level for a sound event and the equivalent noise level over the monitoring period.

Results. Average noise values were determined for each type of electric train when moving in each direction. The background noise level was established. The number of trains of each type travelling southward and northward was determined based on train schedules. The equivalent noise level was calculated for the monitoring period using the obtained data. The study relied on the following principles: fixed duration for measuring single sound events and calculation of the equivalent noise level over the monitoring period based on the number of sound events.

Discussion. The measurements made it possible to obtain data on the impact of railway noise on the population. The results can be used to assess the risk of noise impact on people living near railways. The study has identified the need to develop a methodology for measuring railway noise.

 Conclusion. The equivalent noise level was calculated over the monitoring period based on measured noise levels created by passing trains and background noise levels.

Introduction: Enterobiasis caused by pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis) is the most common parasitic disease in Russia and a significant public health challenge.

 Objective: To study the sanitary condition of environmental objects in the Russian Federation and the degree of their contamination with Enterobius vermicularis eggs based on the results of parasite monitoring conducted in 2010–2024.

 Materials and methods: We did a retrospective epidemiological analysis of data collected using Form No. 2-22, Information on activities of environmental quality, microbiological and parasitological laboratories of federal budgetary healthcare institutions – centers of hygiene and epidemiology, for 2010–2024. The level of contamination of environmental objects with Enterobius vermicularis eggs and the level of availability of parasitological samples (per 1,000 tests or ‰) were calculated. Using the least squares method and time series alignment, we determined long-term trends in environmental object contamination levels. The degree of trend expression was assessed using the indicators of the baseline and average annual growth/decline rate (%).

 Results: In 2010–2024, the detection rate of pinworm eggs decreased by 82 %, from 1.47 ‰ to 0.88 ‰. The level of availability of sanitary and parasitological samples decreased by 0.5 % annually. Contamination levels exceeding the national average of 0.92 ‰ were detected in the republics of Ingushetia (10.61 ‰), Chechnya (2.66 ‰), Dagestan (2.66 ‰), Stavropol Krai (4.80 ‰), and some other regions. A high level of contamination with pinworm eggs was registered in swimming pool water (1.76 ‰), wastewater and its residues (1.12 ‰), and wipe samples (1.02 ‰). The lowest levels were observed in decentralized water supply (0.23 ‰). Since 2020, the percentage of Russian regions where enterobiasis pathogens were not found during parasitological monitoring has significantly increased from 14 % to 40 %.

Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of continuing parasitological monitoring and improving preventive measures to keep reducing the level of contamination of environmental objects with the causative agent of enterobiasis.

Introduction: Prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) is a current global challenge. Their relevance is determined by high prevalence and adverse consequences for national economies, life and health of patients and medical personnel.

Objective: To study the etiological structure of postoperative wound infections in patients of different specialty surgical departments of hospitals in the Lipetsk Region.

 Materials and methods: In 2007–2024, 10,408 strains of microorganisms isolated from clinical specimens of patients with various types of surgical site infections were tested. The range of aerobic and facultative anaerobic organisms was identified using standard bacteriological methods. Resistance to antibiotics was determined in accordance with the recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). Collected data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the “Automated Workplace of a Bacteriologist” software developed with the participation of bacteriology laboratory specialists for microbiological monitoring.

 Results: The analysis of laboratory test results revealed distinct differences in the microbiota species composition between different specialty hospitals. Gram-positive bacteria prevailed in surgical departments of multidisciplinary hospitals while gram-negative bacteria were more frequently found in cancer centers. Mixed infections were established in 60.9 % of cases. We noted an increase in the proportion of Candida spp. in the etiological structure of the microbiota of patients. Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to carbapenems (meropenem) (96.9 %), amikacin (94.6 %), ciprofloxacin (90.4 %), and cefuroxime (90.1 %). The proportions of staphylococci sensitive to amikacin, gentamicin, and vancomycin were 99.7 %, 98.0 %, and 96.2 %, respectively.