[Problems in the system of state regulation of chemical safety].

In the paper the analysis of the problems of chemical safety abroad and in Russian Federation is presented, possible ways for their solutions, including the need for legal and scientific-methodical support for population health risk assessment are considered.

[Approaches to assessing the health risk under exposure to chemicals with account of age peculiarities].

PURPOSE: To study the factors of exposure and to assess health risk in different age groups under exposure to chemical contaminants in drinking water in Novodvinsk. TECHNIQUES: Local exposure factors were studied by questionnaire in 1628 men in three age groups: 1-6 years, 7-17 years, 18 years and older. In the risk model three ways of exposure: inhalation, oral, and skin have been included. To assess the noncarcinogenic risk cumulative risk indices (CRI) were calculated, to evaluate a carcinogenic risk--the total carcinogenic risk (TCR), taking into account the correction for the age-specific cancer-causing potential was calculated. RESULTS: Quantity of water used for drinking for 1 kg of body weight in children of 1-6 years was 109 ml/kg-day, 7-17 years--55 ml/kg-day, and adults--34 ml/kg-day. At concentrations of contaminants of drinking water at 90th and 98th percentile the risk to the blood system exceeds the allowable level only for children in the group of 1-6 years (CRI = 1,8 and 3,7, respectively), taking into account age-specific for the total population TCR amounted to 4.3 x 10(-5) and 9.3 x 10(-5) correspondingly.

[Characteristics of quantitative values of regional factors of exposure in the studied areas].

In the paper the results of a comparative evaluation of the Russian and the standard, recommended by US EPA, factors of population exposure in seven areas of different federal districts of Russia are presented. Concerning the adult population differences reach 3.5 times, for children (1-6 years) - 4.2 times. An example of the effect of regional differences and standard factors on levels of exposure and risk is considered. Promising areas for further research on regional factors to improve the accuracy and reliability of the forecast assessments of the risks to public health have been identified.

[Regional standardization of water chemical substances in case of the Arkhangelsk region].

The paper gives the data characterizing the status of water supply systems, the efficiency of waterworks, and the quality of drinking and Severnaya Dvina River waters. It generalizes the data characterizing the sanitary-and-epidemiological situation and human health in the region. There is evidence for the assumption that regional standardization of chemical compounds in the drinking water of northern regions should be carried out during water preparation, which confirms the conclusions of hygienic and toxic studies previously conducted in individual areas and those given in the references.

[Multiple environmental risk for cancer in population of industrial town].

The investigation was undertaken in the town of Novodvinsk to assess multiple environmental population health risks from exposures to carcinogens by inhalation, oral, and dermal routes. Local exposure factors were studied in a longitudinal study by interviewing 1963 subjects according to a questionnaire. The levels of 11 carcinogens were estimated in 4 environmental media: ambient air; drinking water soil, and foodstuffs. The risk assessment model comprised three exposure routes: inhalation, oral, and dermal. Lifetime average daily doses and factors of the carcinogenic potential were used for risk assessment. Total cancer risk (TCR) across all the exposure routes was 1.4x10@-3. The contribution of oral, inhalation, and dermal routes to TCR was 94.8% (1.4x10@-3), 4.8% (6.8x10@-5), and 0.4% (5.4x10@-6), respectively. The leading environmental media for carcinogens are foodstuffs, whose contribution to the oral route was 81.3% (1.1x10@-3), and drinking water whose contribution was 18.7% (2.5x10@-4). The major contaminants contributing to cancer risk were arsenic (1. 1x10@-3), nickel (2.5x10@-4), and chloroform (3. 7x10@-5).

[Population health risk from chemical air pollutants in a city with developed pulp and paper industry].

OBJECTIVE: to assess an effect of chemical contaminants contained in emissions of pulp and paper mill on prevalence respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in population of Novodvinsk. The average annual concentrations of chemicals of concern were calculated by modeling. A prevalence of population was studied by using of the primary medical documentation in sex among children from 0 to 17 and adults from 65 and older Hazard index (HIi) was used to assess the non-cancer health effects. Unit risk was used to calculate individual cancer risk (CR). Testing of null hypothesis was conducted by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and ?2. The hazard index for respiratory tract (HIi = 3,54; 95% CI: 3.34-3.70) and cardiovascular system (HIi = 0.78; 95% /DE: 0.74-0.82) in the district close to the Arkhangelsk pulp and paper mill (APPM) were higher than in remote districts. In this district the prevalence of bronchial asthma in boys (30.7+13.8%), women (47.0+9.8%) and men (127.4+45.2%) was the highest. Also in this district the prevalence of hypertension among women (139.1+14.4%) and men (311.5+56.1%), diseases of veins among women (48.2+10.8%) and diseases of upper respiratory tract among men (177.0+36.4%) was higher than in remote districts from the APPM. The level of CR in the district located close by the APPM was acceptable (1.0 (10-5; 95% CI: 9.0 (10-6-1, 18(10-5).

[Demographic and socioeconomic determinants of health risk perception].

The aim of the investigation was to study the specific features of health risk perception in Novodvinsk dwellers in relation to gender, age, education, occupation, and income. A cross-sectional study was performed. The authors conducted a questionnaire survey of 695 subjects aged 18 years or older, who lived in Novodvinsk. Risk factors were ranked to define their hazard priorities. The chi2 test of the hypothesis that there are no differences in risk perception between different population groups was carried out. No statistically significant gender differences were found in high risk perception. Respondents less than 30 years of age are inclined to exaggerate the risk of chemical pollution of the environment as compared to 45 year olds (chi2 = 4.97; p = 0.025). It is more characteristic for subjects with a higher education and employees to refer lifestyle to as a high risk factor than for those who have lower education levels and workers (chi2 = 6.34; p = 0.010 and chi2 = 28.58; p < 0.001; respectively). Respondents with a specialized secondary education and workers more frequently regard radioactive pollution of the environment as a high risk (chi2 = 5.43; p = 0.019 and chi2 = 3.39; p = 0.050 and chi2 = 5.43; p = 0.019, respectively). Mean- and low-income subjects consider a low quality of life to be a high risk than those who have higher income (chi2 = 12.35; p < 0.01).