Vol 99, No 11 (2020)

Introduction. The availability of the quality and safety of drinking water is essential for human life and health. The Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) and other participants of the federal project ‘Clean Water’ assigned the task of providing 90.8% of the Russian population Federation with high-quality drinking water from centralized water supply systems until 2024. Currently, Rospotrebnadzor has switched to a new model of risk-based control and supervision, which determined the study’s purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness and economic efficiency of the new model of the service in the field of centralized drinking water supply. At present, Rospotrebnadzor has switched to a new model of risk-based control and supervision.

The purpose of the study. To evaluate the results and cost-effectiveness of the new model of the service in the field of centralized drinking water supply.

Material and methods. The study used indices of the control and supervisory activity of Rospotrebnadzor, indicators of drinking water quality of centralized water supply systems, data on morbidity and mortality of the population of the Russian Federation for 2014-2019. The results were estimated by the proportion of samples of drinking water from centralized water supply systems with excess hygienic standards prevented by the actions of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, as well as controlled cases of morbidity and mortality. The economic efficiency assessment was based on a comparison of the costs of implementing the activities of Rospotrebnadzor and financial losses prevention as a result of a decrease in morbidity and mortality.

Results. An assessment of the results of the Rospotrebnadzor activity showed the occurrence of more than 36.75% of samples in 2019 that did not meet sanitary requirements for sanitary and chemical indices was prevented (1.8-2.0 times more than in 2014-2015), and 1.51% for microbiological (1.6 times more than in 2014). As a result of the activities of the Rospotrebnadzor, 249 deaths and 185,097 thousand cases of diseases of the population associated with the quality of drinking water were more prevented if compared with the pre-reform period. The economic efficiency of the service’s activities to improve the quality of drinking water of centralized water supply systems increased by 28.8% and amounted to 67.7 rubles in 2019.

Conclusions. The introduction of a risk-based model in the control-supervision activities of Rospotrebnadzor led to a decrease in the likelihood of violations of sanitary requirements for the drinking water quality from centralized water supply systems and an increase in the number of prevented deaths and diseases of the population associated with the quality of drinking water. The economic efficiency of the service to improve the quality of drinking water from centralized water supply systems has increased.

Introduction. Chemical admixtures, including those containing aluminum contaminate the R.F. territory environment. There is a well-proven dependence between hygienic factors and population health. Both facts call for developing scientifically substantiated sanitary recommendations for diagnostics and prevention that should involve applying up-to-date critical technologies, including research on proteins acting as immune modulators.

Material and methods. We performed a diagnostic examination and comparatively analyzed the health of children living on territory under the ambient air exposure to aluminum compounds in 78 children who had lived there for not less than four years. The reference group consisted of 20 children who lived in a recreation zone. Immune indices in the examined children were assessed using flow cytometry (Bcl-2, TNFRI), enzyme immunoassay (carcinoembryonic antigen CEA), and allergosorbent (IgG-specific to the aluminum) methods. Genetic indices (TLR4, CPOX, ANKK1) were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also identified aluminum in ambient air and biological media with mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma.

Results. We took ambient air exposure to aluminum in 2 reference concentrations. The average aluminum contents in children’s blood were established to be authentically (p < 0.05) higher than reference levels (by 5.5 times) and the same indices in children from the reference group (by 4.5 times). Average aluminum contents in the blood of children from the test group amounted to 0.037 µg/cm3. It was authentically different from the same index in the reference group (0.02 µg/cm³). Simultaneously we revealed that exposed children had polymorph genotypes of proteomic profile genes in blood plasma, namely TLR4 rs1927911, CPOX (rs1131857), ANKK1 rs1800497. Adverse effects of the exposure to aluminum became apparent due to disorders of neural immune regulation as hyperproduction of IgG specific to aluminum and anti-apoptotic transcription protein Bcl-2. It was confirmed by authentic relations between exposure markers and effects that are absent in the reference group as well as by apparent health disorders such as asthenovegetative syndrome.

Conclusion. The expression of immune mediators (protein that take part in apoptosis, such as TNFR or anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2) and related sections in candidate genes (CPOX rs1131857, ANKK1 rs1800497) with polymorphic changes in them can be recommended as indices for determining and preventing the risk of harm to health in conditions of excessive aerogenic contamination with aluminum compounds.

Introduction. There is a shallow detection rate of occupational diseases in Russia. A large number of acting subjects are usually involved in the diagnosis of diseases. There is considered the current cooperation between the acting subjects responsible for diagnostics of occupational diseases in various modes.

Material and methods. A search was conducted for data that described the main trends concerning conflict of interest in occupational health. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were conducted on issues related to the diagnosis of occupational diseases of specialists working in various branches of this field of medicine.

Results. The author performed the analysis of existing conflicts of interest in acting subjects in the detection and diagnosis of occupational diseases and established the most significant acting subjects. Among them the most pronounced conflicts of interest were shown to be determined by employers (as institutions, and specific managers and doctors performing examinations of workers in harmful conditions, and the managing stuff of these medical institutions, as well as by the employees themselves, who are subject to these examinations. When analyzing the motivation of acting subjects, the primary and financial interest was shown to have less significance than the secondary one. Mutual connectivity in the implementation of secondary interests adjudicates a persistent configuration, which determines both the low detection rate of occupational diseases, including at early stages, and lack of opportunities for prolonging professional longevity. The existence of a conflict of interest is not evil in itself. Still, its resolution is always associated with obtaining benefits, including the entire country’s level (saving the lives of the working population).

Conclusion. To increase staff lifespan and work longevity through the analysis of all acting subjects, it is necessary to improve managing decisions to achieve the predominant primary interests. The study of the conflicts of interest can be an effective method of understanding and improving the health system in occupational health to preserve public health and increase the working population’s longevity.

Introduction. The preservation of the health of workers employed in harmful working conditions is one of the essential strategic tasks of the Russian Federation’s policy in the field of protecting public health. Milk processing workers are exposed to many adverse factors in the work environment and the work process that negatively affect their health. However, in previous studies, assessing and managing occupational risk to their health is not adequately addressed.

Purpose of the study. Hygienic assessment of working conditions and occupational health risks for workers in the production of dairy products.

Material and methods. Authors give the quantitative and qualitative assessment of occupational health risk based on our own hygienic studies results and an in-depth medical examination.

Results. During the work, dairy production workers were established to be exposed to a set of factors of the occupational environment (adverse microclimate, noise, vibration, insufficient lighting) and the labor process’s hardness. It forms harmful working conditions of the first and third degrees (classes 3.1 - 3.3), which corresponds to categories of occupational risk from small (moderate) to high (intolerable). The direct moderate (r = 0.53) reliable correlation relationship between the prevalence of chronic pathology in general and female workers’ work experience was revealed. A very high degree of causal relationship between the work, diseases of the ear and mastoid process (RR = 4.3; EF = 76.7%; CI = 1.6-10,93) and a high degree of relation connection of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (RR = 2.22; EF = 55.1%; CI = 1,21-4,08). It indicates their occupational conditionality. It is necessary to develop and implement many organizational, health-improving, and treatment-and-prophylactic measures to prevent the occurrence of work-related health disorders and minimize risk factors for their development.

Conclusion. Many harmful factors in occu[ational conditions that create the risk of developing a professionally caused disease characterize modern dairy production. It requires urgent measures to reduce the risk.

Introduction. The low quality of environmental and educational factors negatively impact on children’s health in primary school.

Data and methods. The objects of the study were indices of the content of chemicals in the atmospheric air and classrooms, drinking water; indices of the intensity of the educational process, biochemical indices of negative effects in children aged of 7-10 years, exposed to the combined effects of factors of the educational environment and hygienic conditions at the initial stage of education with various types of training programs.

Results. An unsatisfactory quality of atmospheric air in the territories of educational institutions and classrooms was found for the content of phenol and formaldehyde, the constant presence of nickel and chromium. Phenol in the blood was substantiated as a marker of inhalation exposure and index marker of educational load factors - the use of technical teaching means in the educational process, intellectual and emotional loads, the monotony of loads. The connection with the combined effect of dissimilar factors has been established for classes of comorbid diseases of the nervous system and digestive organs. Two indices have been substantiated as biomarkers of the comorbidity in schoolchildren under the combined effect of dissimilar factors: acetylcholinesterase and pepsinogen I in blood serum.

Discussion. The work established sequential continuous logical chain of links ‘the combined effect of environment, the educational factors - a change in indices of negative impact’. So far, the shown likelihood of comorbid diseases of the nervous system and digestive organs makes it possible to predict an increase in the overall incidence of diseases in junior schoolchildren under aerogenic exposure and educational load (the level of additional cases is about 300 per year).

Conclusion. The chemical environmental and educational factors and biomarkers of comorbidity should be taken into account when developing measures aimed at minimizing the risks of the gain in the comorbidity involving the nervous system and digestive organs under the combined impact of dissimilar factors.

Introduction. The element composition of urine is relevant and demanded index in biomedical, biomonitoring studies to assess the level of contamination of biological media and public health risks.

Material and methods. The content of 12 elements (V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd, Tl, Pb) in urine of unexposed children (n = 100 and n = 57, respectively, average age < 6 years) residing in the rural and industrial region of the Western Urals was determined by ICP-MS using Agilent 7500cx inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometer (Agilent Technologies, USA) with an octopole reaction / collision cell (ORS). The measurement was carried out according to Methodical Guidelines 4.1. 3230-14 (FR.1.31.2014.17064) developed by the authors. Urine samples were directly analyzed after 1/10 dilution (V / V) with 1% nitric acid solution. The validity of the results was confirmed by analysis of standard urine samples SERONORMTM urine (Norway). The results were presented as basic statistical indices: minimum and maximum values, arithmetic mean (AM), geometric mean (GM), 5th, 50th, 95th percentiles, and were interpreted in accordance with current international requirements.

Results. In the unexposed group of children the arithmetic mean (AM) for vanadium is 0.68 μ/l; chromium - 1.91 μg/l; manganese 0.96 - μg/l; nickel - 1.84 μg/l; copper - 13.28 μg/l; zinc - 270.56 μg/l; arsenic - 18.- 99 μg/l; selenium - 22.55 μg/l; strontium - 239.09 μg/l; cadmium - 0.12 μg/l; thallium - 0.16 μg/l; lead - 0.83 μg/l. The arithmetic mean in the group of children of the industrial territory for vanadium is - 0.72 μg/l; chromium - 2.13 μg/l; manganese - 1.11 μg/l; nickel - 2.76 μg/l; copper - 26.67 μg/l; zinc - 482.1 μg/l; arsenic - 10.09 μg/l; selenium - 32.84 μg/l; strontium - 1275.35 μg/l; cadmium - 0.122 μg/l; thallium - 0.16 μg/l; lead - 2.16 μg/l. Evaluation of the results of the study showed AM excess of nickel, copper, zinc, strontium and lead.

Conclusion. The paper presents regional features of the urine elemental composition in children who permanently reside in Western Urals’ rural and industrial areas. The study results based on the 95 percentile (P95) can be used as approximate reference data as a basis for assessing the risk associated with exposure to metals. The comparative evaluation of the obtained results with the reference concentrations used in Europe, the USA and Canada for national human biomonitoring programs was carried out.

Introduction. The authors performed a hygienic and epidemiological study of the Perm Territory areas with unfavorable sanitary and
hygienic indices.

Material and methods. The study involved 7,775 children aged from 4 to 14 years (9.2 ± 3.7 years) living in territories using sodium hypochlorite or liquid chlorine (Perm, Krasnokamsky, Nytvensky districts). The comparison group consisted of 425 children (average age 9.3 ± 2.5 years) consuming drinking water that complies with hygienic standards (Sivinsky, Karagai districts).

Results. Identified areas with low quality of drinking water supply due to the content of organochlorine compounds (OCS) appeared to have an increased prevalence of obesity, diabetes, ischemic, and hypertensive disease. The authors developed and tested the critical assessment of the risk of formation disorders of fat and carbohydrate metabolism in children consuming drinking water with a high content of organochlorine compounds. Under conditions of oral exposure to OCS (0.43-0.64 mg/l, more than 3 MPC), the index of the risk of impaired fat and carbohydrate metabolism in children (IPI 0.55) was 1.3 times higher than the corresponding levels in the territory of comparison (IPI 0,42).

Conclusion. The main markers for the indices of the negative impact of HOS (primarily chloroform) include an increase in the blood level of triglycerides (PS 0.41), LDL (PS 0.25) and a decrease in HDL (PS 0.18), exceeding 1, 2-1.6 times the territory of comparison.

Introduction. Historically, pesticides are evaluated more strictly from a medical point of view than other chemicals. Since their features, such as deliberate introduction into the environment, the possibility of contact with them by large masses of the population, and the high biological activity determine their potential danger to humans.

Purpose of research - study of the biological effect of a technical product derived from triazoles when it is repeatedly ingested orally in mammals (rats), establishment of inactive and active doses, justification of the permissible daily dose (DSD) for humans.

Material and methods. In acute experiments, white rats were used, including 6 animals in the group. Tested dose: 500-4000 mg/kg of body weight. A chronic (12 months) experiment was performed on 80 male rats with a bodyweight of 180-190 g at the beginning of the study. Tested doses: 5.0; 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight (1 control and 3 experimental animals, 20 individuals each). In the dynamics of the experiment, we observed the condition and behavior of animals, water, and food consumption, recorded the timing of death, changes in body weight, physiological, biochemical, and hematological indices.

Results. Indices of the acute oral toxicity on the studied product LD50 male rats were 2250 ± 483 mg/kg body weight. The dose of 5.0 mg / kg of body weight was not found to cause significant changes in all studied indices. The doses of 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight had a polytropic effect on the body in experimental animals.

Discussion. The studied product for the acute oral toxicity refers to low-hazard compounds, the doses of 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight has a polytropic effect on the mammalian body, causing changes in carbohydrate, lipid, and lipoprotein metabolism in the body of rats - was accepted as acting. The dose of 5.0 mg / kg of body weight, when administered in rats, there are no changes in all the studied parameters throughout the experiment, is accepted as invalid. Based on the inactive dose-5.0 mg/kg of body weight and taking into account the reserve factor of 100, we have scientifically justified DSD for a person at the level of 0.05 mg/kg.

Summary. The conducted sanitary and Toxicological studies indicate the need to assess the toxicity of new technical products to the mammalian body, to increase the reliability of the developed hygiene standards in environmental objects and food products.

Introduction. The wide distribution of aluminum foil in the consumer market and its active use in the home as a packaging material determine this study’s relevance. Because health risks associated with aluminum’s chronic consumption are still poorly understood, aluminum intake with food is potentially unsafe for health. In this regard, it is relevant to investigate the conformity of methods and food simulators to the tasks of testing aluminum foil for its safe use as food packaging. The aim of the study is to improve methodological approaches to the selection of food simulators for testing aluminum foil as packaging for food products.

Material and methods. The study approach and critical analysis of the domestic and foreign regulatory framework and relevant scientific sources were applied to methodological approaches to study the level of aluminum content in food products and food simulators when testing aluminum foil for food packaging. The adequacy of the application of the methods of quantitative chemical analysis of the aluminum content in food simulators and food products was evaluated in testing household foil, indicated in various regulatory and methodological documents. An experiment was carried out to study the levels of aluminum in simulating media and directly in food.

Results. The regulated food simulators do not fully consider the features of the use of aluminum foil as food packaging, for example, the modes of using aluminum foil at elevated temperatures.

Conclusion. The current regulatory and methodological framework requires improvement. It is advisable to develop a special method for testing aluminum foil for household purposes with a description of temperature and time modes and conditions for simulating the process of baking food products.

Introduction. Chemical factors affect the emergence of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks when drinking water consumed in the arid regions of Russia and the world.

Material and methods. The objects of the study are samples of water springs located in the city of Saratov. Methods of atomic-absorption spectrometry, spectrophotometry, and potentiometry were used to determine contaminants’ content in water of springs. The health and hygiene safety of spring water was assessed by calculating carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk, hazard level, and total hazard level.

Results. The unacceptable level of non-carcinogenic risk (HI>1) was established to refer to the development of pathologies of the cardiovascular system and liver and the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, skin, endocrine system. Nitrates are the greatest contributor to the formation of non-carcinogenic hazards of spring water from the sources studied.

Discussion. The processes of rotting plant matter, agricultural activities, and exchange between water and underlying aquifer caused the exceeding of the admissible health risk of water springs located at higher elevations was mainly due to. The highest frequency and magnitude of excess non-carcinogenic sanitary and chemical indices are most often characteristic of springs at the highest elevations or located in the zone of active agricultural activity. The Ni²⁺ ion, with the highest amount of the total carcinogenic risk caused the carcinogenic effect mainly. It corresponds to springs located on the slopes near the freeways.

Conclusion. Nitrates, nickel, cadmium, and iron, made the most significant contribution to the risk of non-carcinogenic exposure in drinking water from the studied springs have. The presence of nickel had a more pronounced carcinogenic effect. Toxic non-carcinogenic water action is directed mainly at the cardiovascular system and liver. The use of water from the springs studied decreases with the increase in the height of the source above sea level caused the probability of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. The exchange processes with the underlying aquifer of carbonate rocks, as well as the life of iron-healing bacteria during floods and rains, can explain the effect of the arid climate on the distribution of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in the spring water of Saratov.

Introduction. In conditions of the high density of urban development, efficient use of municipal lands is of particular relevance. Food production facilities make up a significant sector of many cities’ economy, including centers of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry, petrochemistry, mining, etc., i.e., settlements where significant areas are limited in use by sanitary protection zones. Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated March 3, 2018, No. 222. However, such a justification is a scientific and methodological problem since there is no regulatory consolidation of the procedure.

The purpose of the study was to develop and practically test methodological approaches to justification the admissibility (inadmissibility) of placing a food production facility in the sanitary protection zone of enterprises in other line of the industry.

Material and methods. Design and technical documentation were studied on sources of data on air quality at the industrial site and indoors, and the quality of food products. Authors performed hygienic assessment of the safety and quality of air, raw materials, water, and manufactured food products for compliance with sanitary requirements and standards. When analyzing potential threats to contamination of food products, a mechanism was used to isolate critical points of the technological process.

Results. An algorithm for the formation of the evidence base of the absence (presence) of the negative impact on food quality, the fact of the location of the production facility in the sanitary protection zone of a large industrial enterprise on the quality of food products is proposed. On the example of the production of juices from natural concentrated products, each step of the algorithm has been worked out: analysis of the technological process of production; hazard identification, instrumental measurements of the quality of environmental objects and raw materials and products.

Conclusion. The proposed algorithm allows creating a reliable evidence base for deciding on the admissibility (inadmissibility) of the location of the food production facility in the sanitary protection zone of the enterprise with a different type of activity, tested in real conditions of a large industrial unit. The algorithm can be used as a base for the widespread use and further improvement.