Introduction: The relevance of this study is determined by the importance of taking disease prevention and control measures on the basis of complete, reliable, and high-quality information. Method approaches to organizing environmental quality monitoring have been substantiated recently.

Objective: To assess organization of environmental quality monitoring and laboratory testing in the populated areas of the Russian Arctic for compliance with modern requirements.

Materials and methods: We scrutinized ambient air, water, and soil quality monitoring programs programs for the year 2023 in seven regions of the Russian Arctic. The analysis and visualization were carried out using Microsoft Excel and ESRI ArcGIS 9.3, respectively.

Results: In 2023, environmental quality was monitored at 865 sites in 297 settlements of the Russian Arctic. Ambient air quality was monitored at 49 sites in 30 settlements, soil – at 251 sites in 106 settlements, water in the centralized water supply system – at 565 sites, including 280 sites in the distribution network. Two to 12 quality indicators were determined in ambient air, 2 to 20 in soil, and 9 to 31 in water from centralized water supply systems.

Discussion: The coverage of the areas under study with environmental quality monitoring varies significantly: from 9 settlements in the Arctic territories of the Krasnoyarsk Krai to 88 in the Murmansk Region. The pronounced difference in the scope of environmental quality monitoring, on the one hand, impedes objective comparison of environmental conditions between the regions and, on the other hand, makes it impossible to link adverse environmental factors with human health effects due to the limited data collected.

Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive analysis of organization of ambient air, water, and soil quality monitoring in seven regions of the Russian Arctic. We have prepared recommendations for updating environmental quality monitoring programs taking into account modern requirements.

Introduction: Workplace air carcinogens have the potency to induce malignant tumors not only of the lungs but also of other organs, which creates problems in establishing a causal relationship between job and disease.

Objective: To assess occupational carcinogenic risks posed by chemicals found in the workplace air of underground coppernickel miners in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods: A priori quantitative occupational carcinogenic risk assessment for drill operators, loading and hauling machine operators, timbermen, and stope miners was conducted using mean concentrations of chemicals calculated from the range of laboratory results of workplace air quality testing according to R 2.2.3969–23, Guidelines for occupational risk assessment for workers’ health: Organizational and methodological aspects, principles and criteria. Quantitative occupational carcinogenic risk levels were categorized based on the criteria presented in Chapter 6 of the Guidelines.

Results and discussion: Unacceptable total carcinogenic risk levels (> 1×10^–3) were found at workplaces of timbermen and drill operators. Priority substances contributing the most to the total carcinogenic risk for workers of these occupations are chromium and nickel. It should be noted that there are uncertainties in risk assessment related to the use of cancer potency factors established for the general population. The uncertainty in exposure assessment is associated with inability to consider the efficiency of the use of personal protective equipment.

Conclusion: Unacceptable risk levels at workplaces of timbermen and drill operators were estimated during a priori quantitative occupational carcinogenic risk assessment. They necessitate the development of risk mitigation measures and a set of preventive medicine activities for the period of reducing the risk to acceptable levels.

Introduction: Since 2024, Russian R 2.1.10.3968-23, Guidelines for assessing health risks from exposure to chemical environmental pollutants, have been in effect, which opens up new opportunities for analyzing adverse human health effects of environmental factors.

Objective: To justify temporary deviations in drinking water quality taking into account new scientific evidence and using the methodology of human health risk assessment.

Materials and methods: For the current study, we selected 214 results of water quality testing before supply to the urban distribution system for the years 2019–2022. The statistical analysis was conducted in Microsoft Excel using descriptive statistical techniques. Temporary deviations were justified for indicators which median values exceeded hygienic standards. Risk assessment was conducted according to both cancelled and updated Guidelines and included substances with established reference doses and carcinogenic potency factors. We calculated carcinogenic risks, non-carcinogenic hazard coefficients and indices using standard exposure factors.

Results: The statistical analysis showed that median levels of boron and magnesium exceeded hygienic standards. According to the results of health risk assessment, values of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were at an acceptable level. Unacceptable levels were mainly determined for the exposure to arsenic, the concentration of which can be taken as zero in accordance with the new guidelines. Boron exposure did not significantly contribute to risk levels, while for magnesium the reference dose is absent.

Discussion: Questions are raised related to the lack of reference doses for certain chemicals and exclusion of some pollutants from the analysis.

Conclusion: The health risk assessment values calculated in accordance with the updated guidelines are within the acceptable range, indicating that there is no threat to health. This finding supports the establishment of temporary deviations for boron and magnesium.

Introduction: Non-compliance with the requirements of sanitary and environmental protection regulations when accumulating and disposing of municipal solid waste has an adverse effect on the environment and human health.

Objective: To assess the adverse environmental and human health impact of illegal municipal solid waste dumping sites.

Materials and methods: We have analyzed data on 14 illegal landfills surveyed in the Voronezh Region within implementation of the regional component of the Federal “General Cleaning” Project in 2022–2023. The study was carried out in compliance with Guidelines 2.1.10.0273–22, Assessment of the impact of objects of accumulated environmental damage on human health and life expectancy, including the possibility of conducting a rapid assessment.

Results: Our findings show that the risk of adverse effects ranges from 0.41 to 0.57, being moderate, and that all the illegal dumping sites should be classified as category 3, i.e. as objects subject to liquidation in the medium term according to Guidelines 2.1.10.0273–22. The contribution of spatial factors to the risk level is the highest (28 to 46 %), followed by geological and technological characteristics (18 to 27 %), and general parameters (18 to 27 %). The contribution of environmental characteristics ranges from 8 to 13.6 %. The estimated decrease in life expectancy from illegal dumping sites is less than a year.

Conclusion: According to the results of assessing adverse environmental health effects of illegal solid municipal waste landfills, all of them pose moderate health risks and their liquidation is a substantiated priority.

Introduction: Characteristics of occupational diseases in underground miners of various specialties remain poorly studied.

Objective: To collect data on the latency, types, and incidence of occupational diseases in underground miners to improve their prevention.

Materials and methods: In 2007, 4,502 miners passed periodic medical examinations and were then followed up for occupational diseases in 2008–2021. Microsoft Excel 2016 and Epi Info, v. 6.04d were used for statistical analyses, including Student’s t and χ2 tests, calculations of relative risks, 95 % confidence intervals, Pearson correlation and approximation coefficients.

Results: In 2008–2021, 995 occupational diseases were first diagnosed in 393 (8.7 %) out of 4,502 underground miners. Increased physical heaviness of work and noise appeared to be the major workplace risk factors accounting for 60.1 % and 16.6 % of all incident cases, among which those of radiculopathy (20.7 %), vibration disease (20.1 %), and sensorineural hearing loss (16.6 %) prevailed. The shortest latency period of an occupational disease was noted in tunnellers (21.2 ± 0.9 years) while the maximum number of diseases per worker was registered among breakage face miners (3.64 ± 0.26 cases). The highest occupational disease incidence rates were found in drillers (625.0), ore loaders (542.9), and breakage face miners (522.6 cases per 10,000 workers). The largest proportion of workers who developed a work-related disease (32.5 %) was noted among the drillers. Significant differences in incidence rates were established among miners of different specialties (up to 34.5 times) and those with the same class of working conditions (up to 22.9 times).

Conclusion: New data have been obtained to improve occupational disease prevention based on the miner’s job, preemployment health status, type, intensity and duration of exposure to risk factors. Currently, prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in miners with high incidence rates of these diseases (> 400 cases per 10,000 workers) is a priority.

Introduction: Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the female reproductive system were the focus of comprehensive experimental, clinical, and epidemiologic studies in Russia in the 20th century. Their findings were taken into account when developing health regulations.

Objective: To analyze research data on the harmful impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the female reproductive system.

Materials and methods: We reviewed domestic and foreign publications found in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed bibliographic databases using the following keywords: electromagnetic fields, reproductive system, and female. Of 89 papers originally selected, 56 proved adverse effects of the electromagnetic factor on the female reproductive system and were eligible for inclusion in the review.

Results: Both Russian clinical and epidemiologic studies of women exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in the occupational setting and experimental animal studies give evidence of negative effects of electromagnetic radiation on the female reproductive system. At present, experimental studies of reproductive effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields with complex characteristics of a radio frequency signal in female laboratory animals are mainly presented. Foreign epidemiologic studies mainly focus on effects of mobile phone usage. Requirements for working conditions of pregnant women have been reduced in guidelines and regulations.

Conclusions: Reproductive effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in women include menstrual disorders, toxicosis during pregnancy, premature birth, and miscarriages. Animal testing also demonstrated their detrimental impact on reproductive health.

Introduction: Working conditions pose high risks of occupational diseases for employees of over 60 specialties engaged in pyrometallurgical refining of nickel.

Objective: To study common and distinctive features of occupational diseases in workers of various specialties involved in pyrometallurgical nickel processing.

Materials and methods: We have analyzed data on working conditions and health in a cohort of 1,429 workers of the pyrometallurgical nickel refining shop. The study was conducted retrospectively with start and end points in the years 2007 and 2021. At the first stage, we focused on working conditions and occupational diseases in pyrometallurgical nickel refining workers and at the second stage – specifically on workers of 13 specialties, in whom at least five occupational diseases were diagnosed. Microsoft Excel 2016 and Epi Info, v. 6.04d, were used for data analysis.

Results: Working conditions in pyrometallurgical nickel production fall within hazard classes 3.2–4. Fibrogenic aerosols containing respirable particles of nickel compounds are the main occupational risk factor. In 2008–2021, 300 cases of occupational diseases (mainly of the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems) were diagnosed in 129 of 1,429 workers (9.0 %). Occupational diseases were detected in 0.23 to 1.60 % of the workers annually. The highest number of occupational diseases was registered in smelters (n = 80), crane operators (n = 50), and repairmen (n = 21). Occupational multimorbidity (2 to 6 diseases) was observed in 91 (70.5 %) workers. We established a significant variance in incidence rates between the metallurgists of different specialties ranging from 56.8 cases per 10,000 workers in electricians to 464.3 in metal pourers. Musculoskeletal diseases prevailed in the latter (61.5 %), while respiratory diseases were more common in other core personnel (47.4–80.0 %). Sensorineural hearing loss was a more frequent finding in electricians (41.7 %).

Conclusion: Knowledge of the features of development and clinical manifestations of occupational diseases in workers of various specialties engaged in pyrometallurgical nickel refining can help differentiate methods of their prevention.

Introduction: Establishing age-specific human vulnerability to viral infections is one of the key issues in studying the age dynamics of human health and longevity.

Objective: To analyze relationships between the age and occupational physiological load of workers and the duration of COVID-19 infection.

Materials and methods: We have analyzed duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 in 2,831 cases registered among industrial and healthcare workers in 2021 to 2023 using SPSS 11.5. The duration (hours) of fatigue per working week was considered as a physiological cost of work.

Results: The mean duration of the disease in female and male industrial workers was 22.27 ± 1.52 days and 18.08 ± 0.67, respectively. In healthcare, it was 22.37 ± 0.92 days in women and 21.15 ± 1.43 days in men. The link between age and COVID-19 duration was found only in workers aged 20 to 49 years; the annual increment in duration was 0.25 days in women and 0.20 days in men. The disease lasting for more than 22 days was associated with the increased duration of the state of fatigue. Concomitant diseases, such as arterial hypertension, obesity and diabetes, prolonged the course of COVID-19 infection by 1.3 to 6.4 days.

Conclusion: The findings showed increased COVID-19 duration in workers aged 20 to 49 years. Those who had been sick for more than 22 days had a higher physiological cost of occupational stress manifested by a longer state of fatigue, which should be considered as the most important symptom of post-COVID syndrome.

Introduction: The incidence of salmonellosis in St. Petersburg remains at one of the highest levels in the Russian Federation.

Objective: To establish features of the epidemic process of Salmonella infection among the residents of St. Petersburg, including those in outpatients.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the years 2020 to 2023 and consisted of a retrospective epidemiological analysis of data retrieved from the register of infectious and parasitic diseases kept by the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the city of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region for 2017–2021 and from medical records of cases receiving outpatient care at a health center of St. Peterburg in 2018–2019. Risk factors were established in a case-control study with 120 cases and 142 controls. We calculated the odds ratio (OR), confidence intervals, significance level (p), and Chi-square for each risk factor.

Results: Our findings showed that the long-term incidence rate of salmonellosis in 2017–2021 was 31.9 ± 3 per 100,000 population, with most cases (87.5 %) induced by S. Enteriditis and 65 % of the confirmed cases hospitalized. The risk group included children under 7 years of age. The incidence in children not attending preschools/schools (198.0; 95 % CI: 175.1–223.9) was higher than in their organized peers (122.2; 95 % CI: 108.5–136.1). The seasonal rise in the former and adults started in summer and ended in November, while in the latter it was noted only in August and September. Results of the case-control study demonstrated that eating in school canteens and catering facilities reduced the risk of Salmonella infection (OR = 0.57; 95 % CI: 0.36–0.90; p = 0.016 and OR = 0.52; 95 % CI: 0.32–0.86; p = 0.016, respectively). Contacts with amphibians and/or reptiles (OR = 6.85; 95 % CI: 0.81–57.6; p = 0.041) and acute intestinal infection symptoms in family members (OR = 51.0; 95 % CI: 6.88–378; p = 0.001) were found to be the risk factors for salmonellosis.

Conclusion: High incidence of salmonellosis in St. Petersburg with the majority of sporadic cases requires improvement of the epidemiological surveillance system.