Introduction: Industrial vibration has a complex effect on the body, increasing the risk of circulatory and respiratory diseases, disorders of the liver and endocrine system, which are not recognized by medical boards as occupational.

The objective of our study was to analyze the prevalence of non-occupational diseases in workers suffering from occupational vibration disease and employed in industries and institutions served by health facilities of the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA).

Materials and methods: As a reliable source of information, we used the Industry Register of Persons with Occupational Diseases containing data on 95 cases of occupational vibration disease aged 65.1 ± 1.5 (90 men aged 64.8 ± 1.5 years and 5 women aged 70.6 ± 2.6 years). The prevalence rates are given per 1,000 cases of occupational vibration disease with an error of the intensive indicator and the proportion of the pathology in the structure of non-occupational diseases.

Results: The prevalence of non-occupational diseases in men was 755.6 ± 91.6. Of these, musculoskeletal disorders (288.9±47.8; 39.4 %) ranked first, followed by diseases of the cardiovascular (177.8 ± 40.3; 24.2 %), respiratory (111.1 ± 33.1; 15.2 %), and digestive (66.7 ± 26.3; 9.1 %) systems. Discussion: We established that diseases of the musculoskeletal system and other disorders potentially related to occupational vibration dominated in the structure of non-occupational diseases in the study cohort.

Conclusion: Cases of occupational vibration disease often suffer from musculoskeletal disorders, diseases of the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems, accounting for 87.9 % of all non-occupational illnesses in this research. We recommend a more precise determination of occupational or non-occupational genesis of musculoskeletal disorders in people exposed to vibration at work in occupational health centers.

Introduction: One of the main professional groups of workers in cellular radiotelephone communication includes technical specialists who serve and ensure trouble-free operation of radio transmitters of cellular base stations (BS). Transmitting antennas and BS equipment are powerful sources of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) and one of the main adverse physical factors of the working environment for technicians. RF EMFs affect the functional state of various systems of the human body including the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems.

The objective of our study was to assess the exposure to RF EMFs of cellular communication technical specialists and to establish occupations with the highest exposure levels.

Materials and methods: Instrumental testing of energy flux density of the electromagnetic wave generated by BS receiving and transmitting equipment was carried out at service sites of cellular communication facilities by technical specialists of the industry. The time spent by technicians at workplaces with high EMF levels during the average work shift was measured.

Results: The analysis of collected data showed that 28 % of energy flux density values measured at workplaces exceeded the maximum permissible level for the personnel serving radio transmitters and spending from 12 to 61 % of the work shift in the specified conditions. We established that network construction engineers, network operation engineers, power engineers, technical audit specialists, network development engineers, and mechanics were exposed to increased RF EMF levels.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate the necessity to monitor and reduce occupational exposures of technical specialists of cellular communication in order to improve their working conditions and prevent, inter alia, RF EMS-related diseases.

Background: Improvement of working conditions at enterprises of various sectors of economy can be achieved by solving comprehensive organizational, social, legal and other tasks.

The purpose of the research was to study working conditions and occupational morbidity of workers of various industries in the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2000–2019.

Materials and methods: We analyzed working conditions of the population employed at the enterprises of the republic and occupational disease rates.

Results: Most occupational risk factors were attributed to imperfection of technological processes, equipment and design flaws of machines, mechanisms, equipment, devices and tools. More than a third of cases of occupational disorders were diseases of the musculoskeletal system while every fifth case was that of a respiratory disease; radiculopathy and vibration disease prevailed among nosological forms. Men exposed to general vibration were most at risk of developing occupational diseases, including those induced by other occupational risk factors. At enterprises of mining, construction, and manufacturing industry, working conditions usually failed to meet sanitary and hygienic requirements for physical work heaviness, noise and chemical exposures, in agriculture – for physical work heaviness, and in transport and communications – for work heaviness and intensity.

Conclusion: We observed a steady increase in the proportion of employees exposed to occupational risk factors and/or hazards and a simultaneous decrease in registered occupational disease incidence rates.

Background: As by-products of copper smelting, lead and cadmium pollute both workplace air at metallurgical plants and adjacent territories. Their increased levels in the human body pose a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The objective of our study was evaluate changes in the rat myocardium contractile function following moderate subchronic exposure to soluble lead and/or cadmium salts and its attenuation by means of a complex of bioprotectors.

Materials and methods: The subchronic exposure of rats was modelled by intraperitoneal injections of 3-H₂O lead acetate and/or 2.5-H₂O cadmium chloride in single doses, 6.01 mg of Pb and 0.377 mg of Cd per kg of body weight, respectively, 3 times a week during 6 weeks. The myosin heavy chains isoform ratio was estimated by gel electrophoresis. Biomechanical measurements were performed on isolated multicellular preparations of the myocardium (trabeculae and papillary muscles) from the right ventricle.

Results: The subchronic lead exposure slowed down the contraction and relaxation cycle and increased myosin expression towards slowly cycling V3 isomyosins. Cadmium intoxication, on the contrary, shortened the contraction and relaxation cycle and shifted the ratio of isomyosin forms towards rapidly cycling V1. Following the combined exposure to lead and cadmium, some contractile characteristics changed in the direction typical of the effect of lead while others – in that of cadmium. We observed that the metal combination either neutralized or enhanced the isolated damaging effect of each heavy metal. The use of a complex of bioprotectors normalized the myocardial contractility impaired by the exposure to lead and cadmium either partially or completely.

Discussion: Despite the changes in myocardial contractility following the subchronic lead and cadmium exposure, the mechanisms of heterometric regulation were maintained. The adverse cardiotoxic effect of the combination of these industrial contaminants may be weakened by administering a complex of bioprotectors.

Introduction: Apart from the targeted production of many metal and oxide nanomaterials with desired properties (socalled engineered nanoparticles) and their wide and diverse use in engineering, science, and medicine, even more important potential health risks to human health may be associated with some old technologies. Non-engineered metal oxide nanoparticles (MeO-NPs) generated spontaneously during arc welding, production of steel and non-ferrous metals, pollute the workplace and ambient air along with submicron particles (> 100 nm) of the same metal oxides. The most important sources of by-production of zinc oxide nanoparticles include primary smelting or re-smelting of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc of various proportions (sometimes with a much lower amount of lead, tin, and other metals). The rationale of the study of the comparative and combined toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) is their simultaneous presence in aerosol emissions from brass metallurgy.

The objective of our study was to estimate the comparative and combined toxicity of ZnO-NPs and CuO-NPs.

Methods: Stable suspensions of MeO-NPs obtained by laser ablation of 99.99 % pure zinc and copper under a layer of deionized water, were injected intraperitoneally 18 times during 6 weeks to outbred male rats separately (in equal mass doses) or in combination for a comparative assessment and analysis of the type of the combined exposure to the studied nanoparticles for a large number of signs (including DNA fragmentation).

Results: We established that, judging by some direct and indirect evidence, the subchronic effect of ZnO-NPs on the body was more detrimental than that of CuO-NPs. The mathematical description of the results using the response surface method showed that, similar to other previously studied binary toxic combinations, the response of the body to the combined exposure to CuO and ZnO nanoparticles was characterized by a complex interaction of various types of combined toxicity, depending on the effect it was evaluated for, the levels of the effect and doses. When analyzing the type of the combined effect of ZnO-NPs and CuO-NPs, we observed both the antagonism and additivity according to some indicators of the state of the body, which makes us evaluate their combined exposure as dangerous.

Background: A stable natural and technogenic boron geochemical province characterized by high environmental levels of boron has formed in the Aktobe Region of West Kazakhstan. The main local source of boron is sludge collectors of the boric acid production of the now destroyed chemical plant, built without impervious screens in the former old channels of the Ilek River, as well as in the river floodplain on alluvial quaternary sand and gravel deposits with high permeability.

The objective of the study was to map hair levels of boron in residents of the Aktobe Region and to establish their relationship with disease incidence of the adult population.

Materials and methods: The study included 340 permanent residents of the Aktobe Region, Republic of Kazakhstan, aged 18–60. Hair boron levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a Nexion 300D spectrometer (PerkinElmer Inc., USA) coupled with an ESI SC-2 DX4 sampler (Elemental Scientific Inc., USA). Mapping was performed using the QGIS cross-platform geographic information system (QGIS 3.18).

Results: The map of the boron status of the study participants visually demonstrated the uneven distribution of hair boron concentrations in the inhabitants of the region. Hair levels of boron were significantly higher in men than in women (p = 0.000). We established a strong direct correlation between hair levels of boron and the incidence of congenital anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities (r = 0.886, p = 0.019), diseases of the genitourinary system (r = 0.829, p = 0.042), respiratory diseases (r = 0.943, p = 0.005), diseases of the digestive system (r = 0.878, p = 0.021), diseases of the blood, hematopoietic organs and the immune system (r = 0.880, p = 0.017).

Conclusion: The mapping of hair levels of boron in the residents of the Aktobe Region of West Kazakhstan gave a visual demonstration of the uneven distribution of environmental pollution with boron in the study area. The revealed relationships between boron concentrations in hair tissue and disease incidence in the boric geochemical province confirm the assumption that the ecological features of the environment can affect the health of the population, which requires further in-depth research.

Background: According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, the bodies and institutions of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) shall carry out sanitary and epidemiological surveillance over the sanitary protection districts of natural curative resources, health and recreational areas, mountain and spa resorts. The specified districts are statutory and use-restricted zones. They are designated for protection and preservation of natural curative resources and resort areas.

The purpose of the study was to elaborate approaches to organization of effective sanitary and epidemiological surveillance over the sanitary protection districts.

Material and methods: We analyzed data collected by the Laboratory for Resort Resources of the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers, results of our own surveys of mineral water deposits, therapeutic mud sites, and resort areas carried out when designing districts, and data on the districts established in the Russian Federation. In addition, we have reviewed legislative and regulatory requirements for establishment and surveillance of environmental conditions in such districts.

Results and discussion: Difficulties in executing sanitary and epidemiological control (surveillance) over the districts are related to the lack of an up-to-date legal framework for the districts or general access to the data on their boundaries, the obsolete nature of programs (plans) of sanitary and recreational activities, a wide variety of controlled activities and objects, etc.

Conclusion: In order to organize effective sanitary and epidemiological control over the districts, it is important to review and approve a set of regulatory documents and guidelines developed in 2017–2020 by the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers. Besides, it is essential to rank objects of governmental supervision, to develop electronic databases on the controlled objects for each district, and to collaborate with the bodies of the Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service (Rosprirodnadzor) and other state control bodies in conducting scheduled inspections. It is also necessary to conduct sanitary and epidemiological expert examinations, surveys, studies, tests, and other types of assessments, involving accredited experts and expert organizations.

Introduction: Widespread violations of mandatory requirements entails administrative measures that cause economic damage to both consumers and economic entities. In the context of the development of integration processes and harmonization of legislation, new, more effective approaches to the governmental control (supervision) and food quality and safety management based on prevention of violations and reduction of damage risks are being introduced.

 The objective of our work was to substantiate the necessity of damage liability insurance for producers and retailers as an instrument of improving quality and safety of foodstuffs and reducing risks of damages to consumers and economic operators.

Materials and methods: We analyzed data of the Sverdlovsk Regional Rospotrebnadzor Office, the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Sverdlovsk Region, the Federal Service of State Statistics, the Regional Solid Household Waste Management Operator, the Yekaterinburg Municipal Unitary Enterprise “Spetsavtobaza”, as well as provisions of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses, using comparative and time-series methods.

Results: We established factors accounting for the cumulative economic damage to consumers and economic operators from circulation of substandard food products and found that they contributed differently in terms of the amount of property damage and health damages to consumers. Administrative penalties are the main reason for the property damage to economic operators. Intestinal infections cause most physical and material losses to consumers and these damages are inevitably shared with the state. Dairy and meat industries with extremely high risks incur the greatest financial losses. The use of various approaches to food safety management, including damage liability insurance, will help minimize risks, prevent their consequences, and protect consumers and economic operators.

Conclusion: Violation of regulations poses significant risks of damage to consumers and economic losses to economic operators. Insurance may be considered as an alternative means of risk management motivating businesses to ensure food quality and safety, protect consumers and help maintain their health, and reduce economic losses.

Introduction: Training in the cadet corps involves an increase in motor activity, which affects the level of functional capabilities of adaptation systems.

The objective of our work was to study the features of functional reserves of the cardiorespiratory system in cadets.

Materials and methods: The observation group consisted of 74 cadets aged 10–13 years; the comparison group consisted of 26 secondary school boys. The study of the mode of physical activity was carried out using a questionnaire. Evaluation of fitness and physical performance was carried out according to bioimpedance analysis of body composition and dynamometry. The functional state of the cardiorespiratory system was assessed by the parameters of the breath holding test during inhalation and exhalation, the Skibinskaya index, spirography, cardiointervalography with an active clinoorthostatic test. Statistical analysis was performed using standard methods.

Results: Every second cadet regularly goes in for physical education and sports. The physical development of cadets is characterized by higher values of the phase angle, active cellular and musculoskeletal mass, and dynamometry. The functional reserves of the cardiorespiratory system according to the Skibinskaya index, the values of the breath holding time during inhalation and exhalation in cadets were 1.3–1.7 times higher than those in secondary school boys; the number of children with good test results in the observation group was 1.4-3.3 times more than that in the controls. The indices of cardiointervalography (variation range, vegetative balance index, vegetative balance index, and tension index) in cadets differed significantly from those in the comparison group (by 1.2–1.6 times) and indicated the activation of the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system at rest and the activity of the sympathetic part under load in response to a stress factor. Every third child in the observation group had an initial vagotonia; hypersympathicotonia was found in isolated cases. A hypersympathicotonic variant of autonomic reactivity was registered in 60.8 % of cadets during the exercise test.

Conclusion: Sufficient physical activity of cadets improves the indices of physical development and muscle strength, which is accompanied by an increase in the functional reserves of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. However, the presence of hypersympathicotonic autonomic reactivity may indicate tension of adaptation processes during exercise.

Background: The wide use of digital tools in teaching requires a hygienic assessment of their impact on the health and lifestyle of students.

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the digital environment on the health and lifestyle of adolescents, depending on the duration of use of electronic learning tools in educational and leisure activities.

Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire-based survey of 111 high school and college students was conducted to establish their screen time in the educational process, when performing homework and at leisure, as well as indicators of wellbeing and lifestyle and health complaints. In addition, learning conditions in college computer classes, such as illumination, microclimate, air ionization, levels of electromagnetic fields, airborne concentrations of phenol and formaldehyde were assessed. Modern statistical methods (Student’s t-test, chi-squared test) and methods of evidence-based medicine were applied.

Results and discussion: Almost 66 % of the respondents reported using electronic teaching aids (a computer or laptop) at school three or more times a week and severer symptoms of fatigue after such classes. Complaints typical of adult professional users were not common in adolescents, except for visual impairment over the past year (48.6 %). In computer classes, microclimate parameters were far from being optimal: illumination was lower than the regulated values; the levels of electromagnetic fields, ionization, and indoor air concentrations of phenol and formaldehyde were comparable to the appropriate standard values. We observed a high involvement of adolescents in the use of digital tools at home for educational purposes and especially at leisure. The intensive use of Internet (more than 4 hours a day) was associated with frequent complaints of headaches, visual impairment, sleep disorders, and poor self-assessment of the physical shape that may be attributed to the established decreasing number of teenagers engaged in physical culture and sports.

Conclusion: The length of time spent in the Internet space for homework and leisure activities affects students’ health and lifestyle. This indicates the need to develop and implement preventive and educational programs for adolescents in order to minimize health risks posed by digital environment and confirmed by outcomes of distance learning.

Background: The specificity of Streptococcus pneumoniae interaction with different epithelial cells has not been fully studied. Yet, it has been demonstrated that this type of streptococcus induced bacterial inflammation in 49 % of cases of various respiratory diseases. Previous studies indicate that inhalation exposure to occupational risk factors accounts for a higher average long-term incidence rate of community-acquired pneumonia among workers.

The objective of our study was to substantiate approaches to developing criteria for establishing the immunocompromised status of workers exposed to chrysotile asbestos for subsequent vaccination against pneumococcal disease.

Materials and methods: We analyzed data on 304 cases of community-acquired pneumonia registered in 2005–2016 among chrysotile miners and millers, obtained from the Information System of Epidemiological Surveillance maintained by the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Sverdlovsk Region. In addition, we screened 240 employees for prevaccination immunity using immunoassay tests.

Results: We established a higher incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in miners and millers (217 cases or 71.4 %) compared to the control cohort consisting of auxiliary staff (87 cases or 28.6 %). We also noted that the longer length of employment was associated with an increased secretory IgA synthesis in both miners and millers and a significant decrease in the bactericidal action of neutrophils in miners.

Conclusion: Chrysotile asbestos exposure leads to adaptive stress, strain of protective and compensatory mechanisms, poor resistance causing increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial diseases, and the development of secondary immunodeficiency in experienced workers of the main occupations, all contributing to higher incidence of community-acquired pneumonia.