[Ecological-hygienic evaluation of the environment of territories being adjacent to decultivated uranium mines].

On the territory of Kazakhstan there are uranium deposits, many ofwhich are in mothballed since times of perestroika. Often, the mines are flooded and represent a "time-delay bomb". Inside of mines various there are accumulated gases of both organic and inorganic nature, periodically thrown out and adversely affecting on the health of local populations. The aim of the study was the investigation of the state of the environment of Esilsky district of the Akmola region by common pollutants and chemicals. As the basic variable for the investigation of ambient air there was accepted the maximum one-time concentration of suspended substances, phenol, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide. The results were evaluated in relation to the MPC for the analyzed substance in the air according to maximal single MPC (MPCms) and daily average MPC (MPCda). The content of metals in the water was determined with the use of spectrophotometer PD-303S. Evaluation of the results was executed in relation of the MPC of substances in water, by means of the comparison with the requirements of Federal standards for drinking water, samples from drinking water sources. There were executed calculations of the overall index of water pollution (IWVgen), the index of water pollution by heavy metals (IWVhm). Chemical analysis of soil was carried out with the use of spectrophotometer PD- 303S (Japan), the photometer expert-003 "Ekoniks". Evaluation of the results was carried out with the respect to the MPC in the soil, the toxicity of all components. Summarizing soil pollution index was evaluated for metals contained in the soil at the level of more than or equal to 1 MAC. The settlement Krasnogorskiy and the village of Kalachi were found to be characterized by a low level of air pollution, increased rigidity of drinking water exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations of copper by 3.45 times and chloride by 1.17 times in the soil cover.

EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016 for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses.

Chronic diseases and illnesses associated with non-specific symptoms are on the rise. In addition to chronic stress in social and work environments, physical and chemical exposures at home, at work, and during leisure activities are causal or contributing environmental stressors that deserve attention by the general practitioner as well as by all other members of the health care community. It seems necessary now to take "new exposures" like electromagnetic fields (EMF) into account. Physicians are increasingly confronted with health problems from unidentified causes. Studies, empirical observations, and patient reports clearly indicate interactions between EMF exposure and health problems. Individual susceptibility and environmental factors are frequently neglected. New wireless technologies and applications have been introduced without any certainty about their health effects, raising new challenges for medicine and society. For instance, the issue of so-called non-thermal effects and potential long-term effects of low-dose exposure were scarcely investigated prior to the introduction of these technologies. Common electromagnetic field or EMF sources: Radio-frequency radiation (RF) (3 MHz to 300 GHz) is emitted from radio and TV broadcast antennas, Wi-Fi access points, routers, and clients (e.g. smartphones, tablets), cordless and mobile phones including their base stations, and Bluetooth devices. Extremely low frequency electric (ELF EF) and magnetic fields (ELF MF) (3 Hz to 3 kHz) are emitted from electrical wiring, lamps, and appliances. Very low frequency electric (VLF EF) and magnetic fields (VLF MF) (3 kHz to 3 MHz) are emitted, due to harmonic voltage and current distortions, from electrical wiring, lamps (e.g. compact fluorescent lamps), and electronic devices. On the one hand, there is strong evidence that long-term exposure to certain EMFs is a risk factor for diseases such as certain cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and male infertility. On the other hand, the emerging electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is more and more recognized by health authorities, disability administrators and case workers, politicians, as well as courts of law. We recommend treating EHS clinically as part of the group of chronic multisystem illnesses (CMI), but still recognizing that the underlying cause remains the environment. In the beginning, EHS symptoms occur only occasionally, but over time they may increase in frequency and severity. Common EHS symptoms include headaches, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, depression, a lack of energy, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. A comprehensive medical history, which should include all symptoms and their occurrences in spatial and temporal terms and in the context of EMF exposures, is the key to making the diagnosis. The EMF exposure is usually assessed by EMF measurements at home and at work. Certain types of EMF exposure can be assessed by asking about common EMF sources. It is very important to take the individual susceptibility into account. The primary method of treatment should mainly focus on the prevention or reduction of EMF exposure, that is, reducing or eliminating all sources of high EMF exposure at home and at the workplace. The reduction of EMF exposure should also be extended to public spaces such as schools, hospitals, public transport, and libraries to enable persons with EHS an unhindered use (accessibility measure). If a detrimental EMF exposure is reduced sufficiently, the body has a chance to recover and EHS symptoms will be reduced or even disappear. Many examples have shown that such measures can prove effective. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, the broad range of other environmental factors that contribute to the total body burden should also be addressed. Anything that supports homeostasis will increase a person's resilience against disease and thus against the adverse effects of EMF exposure. There is increasing evidence that EMF exposure has a major impact on the oxidative and nitrosative regulation capacity in affected individuals. This concept also may explain why the level of susceptibility to EMF can change and why the range of symptoms reported in the context of EMF exposures is so large. Based on our current understanding, a treatment approach that minimizes the adverse effects of peroxynitrite - as has been increasingly used in the treatment of multisystem illnesses - works best. This EMF Guideline gives an overview of the current knowledge regarding EMF-related health risks and provides recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and accessibility measures of EHS to improve and restore individual health outcomes as well as for the development of strategies for prevention.

Environmental origins of congenital heart disease: the heart-placenta connection.

Although the mammalian embryo is well protected in the uterus, environmental chemicals, drugs, and maternal nutritional imbalances can interfere with regulatory pathways directing placental and embryonic development early in gestation. Embryonic cells are most susceptible to environmental influences during cellular specification and differentiation stages. Because biochemical differentiation precedes morphological outcome often by days, the period of susceptibility to environmental chemicals expectedly precedes visible morphogenic effects. The cellular mechanisms by which drugs and other environmental factors disrupt embryonic development and induce cardiac abnormalities have remained undefined.

Detoxification in naturopathic medicine: a survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the use of clinical detoxification therapies used by licensed naturopathic doctors (NDs) in the United States. DESIGN: This was a qualitative, descriptive, online survey of a convenience sample of NDs. METHODS: An online survey was conducted of NDs who were licensed in the United States. Responses were analyzed descriptively regarding the use of clinical detoxification therapies. Respondents were recruited from a membership list provided by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and from alumni e-mail lists of Council of Naturopathic Medical Education accredited naturopathic medical schools. RESULTS: Surveys were sent out to 1442 e-mail addresses (261 were returned to sender); a total of 196 respondents completed the survey (16.6%). Ninety-two percent (92%) of respondents reported using clinical detoxification therapies. Over 75% of respondents utilized detoxification therapies primarily to treat patients for environmental exposures, general cleansing/preventive medicine, gastrointestinal disorders, and autoimmune disease. Regarding methods used, >75% reported using dietary measures, reducing environmental exposures, and using botanicals as detoxification therapies. Eighty-three percent (83%) of NDs surveyed reported using follow-up measurements to determine efficacy of detoxification therapies. The most common were patient symptom questionnaires (66%), patient medical histories (54%), and urinary provocative challenge testing (53%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of NDs responding to this survey reported routine use of clinical detoxification therapies to treat a range of medical conditions utilizing multiple therapeutic approaches. Although the majority of NDs reported using some follow-up measurements after detoxification therapy, few of these are an objective means to determine treatment efficacy. Further research is needed in the field of complementary and alternative medicine clinical detoxification to determine the safety and efficacy of these approaches.

Environmental evaluation of a child with developmental disability.

Children's health can be affected adversely by the environment in which they live. It is well recognized that some environmental chemicals are harmful to the brain, but the role these chemicals play in the development of specific disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism is not certain. Parents of children who have developmental disabilities often ask the primary care physician whether certain environmental toxicants might be the cause of the illness. A detailed environmental history and physical examination may help clarify whether there is a plausible relationship between an environmental toxicant and a child's disability.

Symptom relief and adherence in the rotary diversified diet, a treatment for environmental illness.

CONTEXT: The rotary diversified diet, which involves food elimination and rotation of remaining allowed foods, is commonly used in the management of environmental illness. No studies have considered patient adherence while evaluating the effectiveness of the diet in controlling symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The study examined the severity of patients' perceived symptoms and dietary adherence during treatment with a rotary diversified diet. DESIGN: A prospective and exploratory study using purposive sampling and the following data collection methods: personal interviews, symptom severity questionnaires, and food records to assess dietary adherence. SETTING: Private clinic of a Toronto, Ontario physician specializing in environmental medicine. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five female residents of Toronto, Ontario (aged 25-67 years) diagnosed with environmental illness. INTERVENTION: Patients were treated with a rotary diversified diet for 16 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptom severity and dietary adherence were assessed after 4, 10, and 16 weeks of treatment. Adherence was assessed by comparing food records to the diet prescription. RESULTS: At 16 weeks, patients reported a 50% decline in symptom severity for 5 of the 6 symptom categories assessed and for all categories combined. Those with closer elimination and rotation adherence reported a greater decline in gastrointestinal symptoms at 4 and 10 weeks of treatment, respectively. Improvement in total symptom severity was associated with closer rotation adherence at 10 weeks. Patients experienced difficulties in adhering to the diet. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the diet, if followed, is beneficial, especially in improving gastrointestinal symptoms. Further evaluation of its effectiveness is limited by its complexity and the nature of environmental illness. Because the diet is difficult to follow over time, patients require extensive nutritional counseling and support.

[Efficiency of sanitary measures in oil-producing areas]. / Effektivnost' sanitarno-gigienicheskikh meropriiatii v raionakh neftedobychi.

The paper presents the results of an analysis of the efficiency of sanitary and environment-protective measures relating the ambient atmosphere in the oil-producing areas of the Republic of Tatarstan. It characterizes the environment-protective activity of the PJSC "Tatneft", gives a sanitary evaluation of the quality of the ambient air in the oil-producing areas. It has been ascertained that the improvement of manufacturing technology and the construction of gas and dust catching units on the oil-producing facilities reduce atmospheric pollutant emissions. The levels of hydrocarbons, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide have been substantially decreased. At present, the influence of oil-producing facilities on the quality of the ambient air is 17-19%; the main source of atmospheric pollution is motor transport (its influence on atmospheric pollution is 40-56%). At present versus 1989-1995, the degree of pollution and the mutagenic potential of the ambient air are reduced, which suggests the efficiency of sanitary and environment-protective measures implemented by the PJSC "Tatneft".

No evidence for an impact of selenium supplementation on environment associated health disorders--a systematic review.

In addition to vitamin C (and other vitamins/antioxidants), clinical ecologists (functional medicine) recommend selenium supplementation as a fundamental therapeutic remedy for the treatment of environment associated health disorders. This recommendation is based on the postulation that the trace element selenium inhibits oxidative stress generated during endogenous detoxification of xenobiotics (phase 1) by increasing selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity, and that it counteracts heavy metal toxicity by forming inert metal complexes. The objective of this review was to investigate whether there are any valid studies providing reliable evidence of the therapeutic benefits of selenium supplementation in potentially environment associated health disorders. A systematic review was conducted based on the rigorous and well-defined methods developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. To achieve the demanding standards for systematic review set by the Cochrane Collaboration, study selection, quality assessment and data abstraction were performed independently and in duplicate using a standardized protocol. Overall, 1290 studies were identified as being eligible for inclusion. Twelve of these met the inclusion criteria and their quality was evaluated individually. None of the studies included in the analysis provided evidence of the therapeutic benefits of selenium supplementation in environment associated health disorders.

[From industrial hygiene and toxicology to environmental hygiene and toxicology: problems and prospects]. / Dall'igiene e tossicologia industriale all'igiene e tossicologia ambientale: problemi e prospettive.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose exposures to mixtures of substances have received increasing interest and they involve many different occupational and environmental situations. The presence in the population (working and general) of groups of susceptible individuals is an important public health issue that poses new challenges to science and society. OBJECTIVES: To discuss the evolution from traditional occupational hygiene and toxicology to the new environmental (general and occupational) hygiene and toxicology. RESULTS: Environmental hygiene and toxicology have remarkably improved analytical tools available to solve most of the analytical issues posed by the present exposure scenario. Biomarkers of low-dose exposure, early effects and individual susceptibility are being intensively investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The challenge in this field for the coming years appears to be not the analytical but the medical and ethical implications.

[Local and global environmental medicine--assessment by Norwegian physicians]. / Lokal og global miljømedisin--norske legers vurderinger.

BACKGROUND: Local and global environmental problems are challenges to our societies and affect human health. This study examines how Norwegian physicians see these problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 1,260 physicians were sent a questionnaire on their knowledge, attitudes and practice related to this subject. The response rate was 88%. RESULTS: Four out of five physicians believe that the global environmental situation is a big threat to human health. Three out of five believe that physicians have a particular responsibility to contribute to a sustainable environment and development and should set an example by a sustainable lifestyle. Half of them believe that the health service has a greater responsibility for sustainability than other institutions. Only one out of three report that environmentally acceptable conditions have been focused in their workplace. Half of the general practitioners and one third of the specialists are faced with environmental health problems every week. More than every third doctor experience patients with "environmental hypochondria". Physicians feel that they need to know more about environmental medicine; mass media is their most important source of information. INTERPRETATION: The study indicates that Norwegian physicians understand the significance of the environmental situation and recognise the responsibility of the profession. However, this knowledge is to a lesser extent translated into practice.

Allergic contact dermatitis.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common occupational and environmental health issue. In common with other forms of allergy the disease progresses in two stages; an initial phase during which sensitization is acquired, followed later (after subsequent exposure to the same chemical allergen) by elicitation of a cutaneous inflammatory reaction. The development of skin sensitization is associated with, and requires, the activation and clonal expansion of allergen responsive T lymphocytes and it is these cells that orchestrate the cutaneous allergic reaction. In recent years, much has been learned of the characteristics of immune responses to skin sensitizing chemicals and of the roles played by dendritic cells, cytokines and chemokines. Some of the more interesting cellular and molecular mechanisms are reviewed briefly in this article. A more detailed appreciation of responses induced by chemical allergens has in turn facilitated the design of novel approaches to the toxicological evaluation of skin sensitization. Real progress has been made, not only in the development of improved methods for hazard identification and characterization, but also in the application of new paradigms for risk assessment. The newer methods now available and the opportunities that exist for further advances are considered. Finally, progress has been made in the characterization of skin sensitization in humans and in the clinical management of ACD. This article seeks to consider skin sensitization and ACD in holistic fashion, bridging experimental observations with clinical disease and basic mechanisms with practical toxicology.