[Metallic content of water sources and drinkable water in industrial cities of Murmansk region].

Performed in 2013, sampling of centralized and noncentralized water-supply and analysis of engineering technology materials on household water use in 6 cities of Murmansk region (Nikel, Zapolyarny, Olenegorsk, Montchegorsk, Apatity, Kirovsk), subjected to industrial emissions, enabled to evaluate and compare levels of 15 metals in water sources (lakes and springs) and the cities' drinkable waters. Findings are that some cities lack sanitary protection zones for water sources, most cities require preliminary water processing, water desinfection involves only chlorination. Concentrations of most metals in water samples from all the cities at the points of water intake, water preparation and water supply are within the hygienic norms. But values significantly (2-5 times) exceeding MACs (both in water sources and in drinkable waters of the cities) were seen for aluminium in Kirovsk city and for nickel in Zapolarny and Nikel cities. To decrease effects of aluminium, nickel and their compounds in the three cities' residents (and preserve health of the population and offsprings), the authors necessitate specification and adaptation of measures to purify the drinkable waters from the pollutants. In all the cities studied, significantly increased concentrations of iron and other metals were seen during water transportation from the source to the city supply--that necessitates replacement of depreciated water supply systems by modern ones. Water taken from Petchenga region springs demonstrated relatively low levels of metals, except from strontium and barium.

[Metal content of local foods in Pechenga district of Murmansk region].

Within international project KolArctic "Food safety and health in frontier area of Russia, Finland and Norway", the study covered local food sampling in Pechenga district of Murmansk region during autumn of 2013, including fish (from 6 lakes), game, mushrooms, wild and cultivated berries, vegetables from private gardens situated at various distances from Nickel and Zapolarnyi settlements, also polling among 400 residents. Levels of 13 metals in the foods were assessed in "Taifun" laboratory. MACs for cadmium was 1.5-2 times exceeded in mushrooms (lamellate and tubular), that for mercury was up to 3 times exceeded in aspen mushrooms. Fresh-water fish appeared to contain the highest levels of mercury, close to MAC. Assessing levels of other metals that were previously normalized in USSR, the findings are 1.5 times exceeded MAC for copper in milk mushrooms, MAC for nickel was 4.5 times exceeded in wild berries, 2.5 times exceeded in cultivated berries, 2 times exceeded in potatoes and 2.5 to 30 times exceeded in mushrooms. Mushrooms have to be considered as major sorbents of total complex of the metals under study. Fresh-water fish is foodstuff mostly contaminated with mercury. Highly toxic nickel has to be considered as a major factor of exposure (and health risk) among the population under study. The data obtained help to specify recommendations on restricting some food items and reducing health risk for the residents subjected to industrial releases from "Pechenganickel" enterprise.

[The importance of behavioral risk factors for bronchopulmonary pathology in copper-nickel industry workers].

The effect of harmful behavioral factors on the development of chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (CBPD) was investigated in 1811 copper-nickel industry workers. The study showed that the most pronounced negative impact on respiratory system was caused by smoking. It manifested itself both by a decrease in the number of healthy individuals and by an increased risk for developing chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Excessive alcohol consumption and obesity did not significantly affect the development of CBPD. However, when combined with smoking, they potentiate its negative pneumotropic action. It is concluded that early detection and management of modifiable non-productive risk factors for CBPD is an effective way to improve the respiratory health of this category of workers.

[Medical and biological assessment of preventive drinks use among workers exposed to adverse working conditions].

Studies on the assessment of the effect of treatment-and-preventive drinks, i.e. "Leovit" dietary kissels, and "Zosterin-Ultra" biologically active food additive, on copper, nickel and cobalt ion concentrations in urine and on lead blood concentrations in workers employed at the "Kola Mining Company" limited liability joint-stock company and exposed to long-term metal aerosol effects, were carried out. Dependence of ion concentrations of these metals in biological media on exposure duration was reported. The study findings reveal the advisability of use of the above-mentioned food additives, having detoxication properties, while carrying out preventive measures among workers exposed to heavy metals.

[Skin vessel lesions in aluminum potroom workers].

The features of development of the skin vessels lesions in 550 aluminum production workers have been investigated. The high prevalence of these disorders have been revealed in anode-operators and cell-operators, 49, 3 and 26.0% of workers, respectively. The regularity and staging of the development of this abnormity have been established, etiology, pathogenesis and clinical significance of those remain unknown.

[Adaptive reactions of external respiration in workers of European North].

Studies covered changes in external respiration system of young able-bodied males and females exposed to ambient air of negative temperature in natural climate of European North. Findings are that breathing cold air causes significant changes in static respiratory volumes and capacities, so vital lung capacity, inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume were decreased, respiratory capacity was increased, respiratory level was decreased. Changes in the females appeared to be more than those in the males.

[Ecologic safety problems on industrial enterprises of Kolsky Transpolar area].

The authors presented results of ecologic and hygienic studies conducted in Kolsky nuclear power station area (Murmansk region). The studies found a trend to accumulation of summarized specific radioactivity and radionuclides of various origin in natural objects (woody plants, snow). Threshold concentrations of radionuclides in the studied objects appeared to be within the limits of normal radiation background.

[Method of express evaluation of physiological resources in individuals with intensive and long occupational activities].

The authors specified and tested an index of occupational functional resources in specialists with intensive and long occupational activities.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases features in miners of Kolsky Transpolar area].

Miners engaged into open-cast and underground extraction of copper-nickel ores in Kolsky Transpolar area have chronic bronchitis as a main nosologic entity among chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (19.1% of the workers). Considerably lower (4.0% of the workers) occurrence concerns chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchial asthma, both developed before the occupational involvement (1.3% of the workers). Complex of occupational and nonoccupational risk factors is connected mostly with smoking that increases COLD/CB risk 10.7-15.8-fold.

[Clinical features of acute carbon monoxide occupational poisonings complicated by thermochemical damage to upper respiratory tract].

Findings are that thermochemical damage to upper respiratory tract makes course of acute occupational and household carbon monoxide poisonings significantly more severe. Inpatient treatment duration appeared to correspond with degree of respiratory tract involvement. Coma depth and duration, artificial lungs ventilation terms, complications occurrence and severity of inhalation injury appeared to be directly dependent.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged in deep-mined extraction of copper-nickel ore].

Examinations were made in 220 male workers exposed to dust-gas (low-silicon dioxide, nitric oxides, and carbon oxide) mixture, physical exercises, and cooling microclimate on deep-mined output of copper-nickel ore. Twenty-eight per cent of the workers were found to have evolving chronic bronchitis that did not substantially affect the patients' working capacity; 3.2% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 1.4% had asthma that had developed before the onset of professional activity. 32.3% of the examinees were ascertained to have individual clinicofunctional disorders that permit their identification as a bronchopulmonary disease risk group to carry out early preventive and rehabilitative measures.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged into aluminium production in Transpolar area of Kolsky peninsula].

Findings are that chronic bronchitis (14.1-18.5% of workers) is leading among bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged into electrolysis and auxiliary workshops of aluminium production. Chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and bronchial asthma (BA) occur in 1.6-2.4% of the workers requiring employment. Among other variants of BA, potroom asthma--occupational form of the disease--should be emphasized. Risk of chronic bronchitis and COLD depends on length of exposure to the occupational hazards, and intensity of smoking habit.

[Role of smoking in bronchopulmonary disease formation in nickel production workers].

Questionnaire and external respiration studies in 295 workers engaged into nickel production (including 158 smokers and 137 nonsmokers) revealed that smoking (7.92 +/- 0.63 packs/year in average) causes clinical symptoms of broncho-pulmonary diseases, lower functional parameters, increased risk of acute and chronic respiratory diseases preceding to chronic bronchitis.

[Kolsky register of births as an instrument of epidemiologic studies of female reproductive health].

The authors evaluate possible use of Monchegorsk retrospective birth database for demographic and epidemiologic studies of various female reproductive health parameters, newborn health parameters, as well as their connections with occupational and other environmental factors.

[Demographic problems and reproductive health of women and children of first year of life]. / Demograficheskie problemy i reproduktivnoe zdorov'e zhenshchin i detei pervogo goda zhizni.

The authors presented comparative evaluation of general demographic situation and reproductive health of women and infants in main mining and industrial districts of Mourmansk region.

[Some aspects of occupational hygiene in females engaged into nickel production in Murmansk region]. / Nekotorye aspekty gigieny truda zhenshchin, zaniatykh v proizvodstve nikelia na predpriiatiiakh Murmanskoi oblasti.

The authors present hygienic evaluation of work conditions for women engaged into nickel production, when related to physiologic features of female organism.

[Electromagnetic fields in melting divisions of nickel production]. / Elektromagnitnye polia v plavil'nykh otdeleniiakh proizvodstva nikelia.

The authors evaluated electromagnetic situation in melting divisions, on transformer substation. Studies covered alternating electric and magnetic fields of industrial frequencies and direct magnetic fields in fire mode of nickel production on workplaces during working shifts. Results proved that induction of the magnetic fields varies widely. Magnetic fields influence is accidental and remains additional factor affecting human body.