[Blood heavy metals in women of indigenous ethnic groups in the Far North].

The paper presents the results of an investigation of the blood levels of mercury, lead, and cadmium in women of indigenous ethnic groups in the Far North. A certain correlation was found between the higher incidence of some poor pregnancy outcomes and fetal maldevelopment upon increased maternal exposure to heavy metals. The found correlations were statistically insignificant. There was no significant association of female exposure to heavy metals with menstrual irregularities and the sex ratio of neonates.

[Reduction of a risk of the deleterious effects of persistent toxic substances on the health of the far north population].

The paper presents the general principles and procedure of the development and implementation of measures to decrease and prevent environmental pollution with persistent toxic substances (PTS) in the Russian Arctic and, accordingly, to reduce a risk of the deleterious effects of PTS on human health. Based on the results of a study of PTS in the Russian Arctic (from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka), the authors first systematized the basic lines and actions and formulated specific measures to reduce the North population's exposure to PTSs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, organic chlorine pesticides (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, etc.), and heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium). A package of measures is aimed at maximally reducing the presence of PTS-containing objects and materials in the north (via detection, collection, and extermination), at neutralizing the soils in settlement lands, at setting up safe water consumption systems, at organizing effective control over the safe use of chemicals and the levels of PTS in raw food materials and foodstuffs, and at working out recommendations on safe procedures for food purchase, storage, and cooking.