Volume 103, Nº 5 (2024)

Introduction. The large-scale responsibility of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) for ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population requires improving methods of scientific analysis and forecasting to optimize management decisions.

The purpose of the work is to increase the reliability of hygienic assessments in the system of state regulation and control based on a comparative analysis of the results of assessing formalized risk and real harm to health under the influence of chemical environmental factors.

Materials and methods. A methodology has been developed for comparative analysis of the results of assessing the formalized (calculated) and realized risk (causing real harm) to the health of the exposed population. The implementation of the proposed approaches was carried out using the example of a comparative analysis of the results of assessing risk and harm to health during an in-depth medical examination of two hundred sixty eight 4–7 years children from the zone of aerogenic chemical exposure from emission sources of large metallurgical production. The comparison group included 98 unexposed 4–7 years children (2020–2022).

Results. There has been clarified the list of priority substances (8 components) for which there are critical violations of the mandatory requirements of sanitary legislation regarding the quality of atmospheric air (non-compliance with hygienic standards for nitrogen dioxide, manganese, nickel, inorganic fluorides, formaldehyde, aluminum, lead, sulfur dioxide), leading to real harm to health. The list of actual diseases identified as real harm caused (8 types) is specified — asthma with an allergic component, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, common variable immunodeficiency, cardiac dysfunction, nephrotic syndrome, atopic dermatitis.

Limitations. A comparative analysis was performed for 4-7 years children exposed to long-term aerogenic pollutants.

Conclusion. A conjugate comparative analysis of the results of assessing the formalized and realized risk (harm) to the health of the exposed population allows to effectively identifying the risks of violations of mandatory requirements of sanitary legislation, leading to harm (damage) to health and to substantiate indicators of risk (harm) to health caused as a result of violations of mandatory requirements for state regulation at the system level.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Reservative Technologies for Risk Management of the Population of the Rospotrebnadzor (meeting protocol No. 2 dated 11.02.2021), and the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (as amended 2013) was carried out.

Contribution:
Zaitseva N.V. — concept and editing;
Zemlyanova M.A. — research design, comparative analysis, editing;
Koldibekova Yu.V. — collecting material and processing data, writing text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: February 16, 2024 / Revised: April 5, 2024 / Accepted: April 9, 2024 / Published: June 17, 2024

 

Introduction. The study of the mechanisms of external environmental effects of chemicals on the human body using highly informative proteomic profiling technologies makes it possible to predict the development of negative effects at the earliest stage of their formation. In combination with experimental studies that exclude the influence of interfering factors, the accuracy of identifying changes in the protein profile increases. Assessing the cause-and-effect relationships between exposure to chemicals and protein transformation increases the effectiveness of prognosis and measures to prevent negative consequences.

The purpose of the work is the forecast of probable negative effects initiated by the transformation of the proteomic profile of blood plasma under the combined influence of chemicals, relied upon on bioinformation matrices based on the results of a comparative analysis of natural and experimental studies (using the example of aluminum oxide, hydrogen fluoride, and benzo(a)pyrene).

Materials and methods. Using the methods of chemical-analytical, statistical, proteomic, and bioinformational analysis, molecular-cellular events were identified in 4–7 years children exposed to aerogenic exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, hydrogen fluoride, and aluminum oxide (field studies). During the comparative analysis, the obtained results were verified by data from experimental studies (Wistar rats) subjected to combined and isolated inhalation exposure in doses equivalent to real ones. Identical proteins were identified and a bioinformation matrix was constructed, on the basis of which a forecast of probable negative effects was made using generally accepted metadata databases.

Results. As a result of field studies, in children exposed to benzo(a)pyrene at a level of up to 2.2 MPC.g. (up to 2.2 RfC), aluminum oxide and hydrogen fluoride — up to 0.3 MPC.g. (up to 0.1 RfC), the concentrations of the studied substances in biological media were established to be 2.0–3.6 times higher than the comparison indicators and reference levels. In the experiment, the content of these contaminants in biological media in exposed animals was up to 19.4 times higher than in the control. In children there were identified, 22 proteins corresponding to the library mass spectra, 40 proteins — in animals. In a comparative analysis of proteins identified in the blood plasma in children and rats, Apolipoprotein A-I and Transthyretin were identified and assessed as “identical”. The expression of these proteins elevates with increasing concentration of the studied substances in biological media. According to information from databases, increased expression of Apolipoprotein A-I and Transthyretin signals an higher risk for the oxidative stress, impaired lipid metabolism, and the development of inflammatory processes. The constructed bioinformation matrix made it possible to predict metabolic disorders, mainly in the tissues of the nervous and hepatobiliary systems.

Limitations. The study does not allow drawing definitive conclusions about the effect of the studied chemicals on changes in the expression of proteins and the genes encoding them, since in this work only the aerogenic route of entry is considered.

Conclusion. The transformation of the proteomic profile of blood plasma was established in field studies and experimentally verified during chronic inhalation exposure to aluminum oxide, hydrogen fluoride and benzo(a)pyrene. A comparative analysis of the identified proteins revealed two identical ones — Apolipoprotein A-I and Transthyretin. A bioinformation matrix was constructed and a forecast was made for the development of negative effects in the form of activation of oxidative processes, lipid dysmetabolism and inflammation, the metabolic pathway of which is associated with changes in the expression of these proteins. In the absence of preventive measures, this can lead to the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, obesity, amyloidosis, hyperthyroidism, etc. in older age. The use of structural bioinformation matrices as a forecasting tool in hygienic research increases the effectiveness of targeted prevention measures for negative consequences due to environmental exposure to chemicals.

Compliance with ethical standards. Experimental studies on a biological model were conducted in compliance with the requirements of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrates Used for Experimental or Other Scientific Purposes (ETS No. 123). The examination of children was carried out in compliance with the ethical principles of the Helsinki Declaration (2013). The research was approved by the Committee on Biomedical Ethics of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “FNC MPT URZN” (minutes of meeting No. 1 dated 02/14/2021).

Contribution:
Zaitseva N.V. — editing;
Zemlyanova M.A. — concept and design of research, editing;
Peskova E.V. — concept and design of research, collection of literature data, statistical processing of material, writing of text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version

Conflict of interest. The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest in connection with the publication of this article.

Acknowledgement. The study was carried out at the expense of the Federal budget.

Received: February 16, 2024 / Revised: March 13, 2024 / Accepted: April 9, 2024 / Published: June 17, 2024

Nitrosamines have toxic properties with a wide range of biological effects including mutagenic, carcinogenic, embryotoxic, teratogenic ones as well as effects on specific target organs or systems. Technogenic transformations result in greater emissions of nitrogen-containing chemicals into ambient air. This leads to their subsequent accumulation in the environment and human body and initialization of nitrosation involving occurrence of highly toxic N-nitrosamines (NA). Levels of nitrites/nitrates and NA in foods and drinking water, which are higher than established safety standards, and elevated endogenous NA formation induce various pathological processes in the human body including oncological ones. Identification of the most promising trends in preventive sanitary-hygienic activities and medical and preventive technologies requires generalization of accumulated sanitary-hygienic, epidemiological, and clinical and laboratory data.

The aim of this study was to generalize contemporary perceptions about mechanisms of harmful impacts exerted by NA on human health and the most effective methods for identifying pathological processes initiated by them. Literature analysis relied on reviewing databases belonging to electronic scientific libraries including CyberLeninka and eLIBRARY.RU, the United States National Library of Medicine, Central Scientific Medical Library, Rukont National Digital Resource over the last 15 years. The review covers data on NA sources and ways of entering the human body; the most effective techniques for their identification; safe NA levels in food products and medications; mechanisms of harmful impacts and initiated pathological processes; as well as markers of exposure and effect. The most effective techniques for NA identification include HPLC and GC with MS — MS. Markers of NA occurrence in environmental objects include NDMA, NMEA, NDEA, NPR, NDPA, NPIP, NDBA; markers of exposure, NDMA, NDEA, NNK and NNN in biological media; markers of the effect include indicators of oxidative stress, levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, stress-hormones, lipid profile indicators, indicators of immune suppression and apoptotic activity, IgG specific to NA and tumor markers for CEA and CA 19-9.

Contribuition:
Ustinova O.Yu. — concept and design of the study, collection of material, writing and editing the text;
Leshkova I.V. — collecting material, writing and editing text;
Vlasova E.M. — collecting material, writing, and editing text;
Vorobyova A.A. — collecting material, writing, and editing text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: February 16, 2024 / Accepted: April 9, 2024 / Published: June 17, 2024

 

Introduction. The hardness and intensity of working process assessment is the actual cause at least in 20 % of workers in the country employed in workplace settings with hard working conditions. Hygienic assessment of working conditions makes it possible to perform prior assessment of occupational health risks and to predict prevalence of negative health outcomes. The application of survey method is also actual taking into account the existing difficulties in the practical implementation of existing approaches to assessing the hardness of work. Objective of the study is to perform prior health risk assessment based on analyzing workers’ subjective perception of work severity. Materials and methods. Hygienic assessment of work hardness was performed using the existing approaches and by analyzing workers’ subjective perception of this factor, considering indicators and their criteria fixed in the valid Guideline 2.2.2006–05. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach in comparison with the analysis of time-lapse data, the calculation of indices of the validity of the results (sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and accuracy) was performed. Prior occupational health risk levels were assessed in accordance with the Guideline 2.2.3969–23. There was created a sample included workers employed at a bearing production (n=95, age is 45.1±1.2 years, work experience in a given occupation is 16.5±1.4 years, 85% of workers were men). Results. Workers’ subjective perception of work hardness was analyzed using a specially designed questionnaire and an automated calculation template. The suggested approach turned out to be highly sensitive (94%), to have high prognostic value (84%) and accuracy (80%) in comparison with the conventional time study. Using workers employed at a bearing production as an example, we revealed priority indicators describing work hardness and established classes of working conditions. Prior health risk levels were unacceptable in 92.6 % cases and slightly different from the results obtained by time studies (83.2%, р=0.07). Limitations. A prior health risk assessment results cannot be extrapolated for other occupations with another working conditions. Conclusion. Subjective perception of a factor can be used in preliminary hygienic assessment of work hardness and following prior assessment of occupational health risks. To prevent negative health outcomes and minimize health risks for workers employed at a bearing production, it is advisable to consider the results of this study when making relevant managerial decisions.

Introduction. Identification of early signs of occupational hearing loss among workers in noise occupations is an extremely important aspect of preserving the labour potential of the economy. Materials and methods. Sociological (survey to identify behavioural factors), hygienic (study of factors in the working environment and the labour process) and clinical-functional (anthropometry, examination by an otorhinolaryngologist, audiometry) studies of workers (two hundred six people) in noise occupations in bearing production were carried out. Results. Working conditions of workers in the production of bearings have been established to be characterized by the impact of increased levels of noise, general and local vibration, thermal radiation, and the hardness of the labour process. Depending on the type of production operations performed and the complex of influencing factors, working conditions are classified as harmful degrees 2–4 (classes 3.2–3.4). The proportion of people with hearing impairment was 16.5% of the total number of those examined. The prevalence of hearing impairment increased statistically significantly with increasing age (p<0.001). In the group of workers with hearing impairment, compared to the group without impairment, an excess of the proportion of people who do not adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle - smoking, insufficient physical activity, unhealthy diet was found; a statistically significant excess of the proportion of people with a body mass index level indicating to the presence of pre-obesity and obesity (p=0.005). Limitations determined by the boundaries of the study of industrial and behavioural factors that determine hearing impairment among workers in noise-producing occupations at a bearing production enterprise. Conclusion. There is shown the role of occupation and behavioural factors in the development of hearing impairment in metalworking workers, which requires further research to develop comprehensive preventive measures.

Introduction. Digital transformation of education leads to the introduction of promising digital technologies into the educational process, one of which is virtual reality (VR ) technologies, which currently are not subject to hygienic regulations. The purpose of the study is a physiological and hygienic assessment of the use of the electronic learning tools in the framework of specialized education in high school seniors. Methods. The objects of the study were two hundred forty four 11th grade students. A survey was conducted on the use of various electronic learning tools (ELT). To assess the impact of VR technologies on the functional state of students there were conducted psychophysiological studies of response indicators to a moving object and of the critical frequency of merging flashes. Assessment of mental performance was realized with the method of proof-reading tests. Two groups of schoolchildren undergoing VR training were examined: with a continuous use time of less than 30 minutes and more than 30 minutes. The obtained results were statistically processed using descriptive statistics methods. Results. 52.7% of schoolchildren use ELT for more than 2 hours a day in the classroom, 93.6% – outside school. The analysis of complaints suggested the development of computer vision syndrome in 39.7% of respondents. The obtained results of the assessment of the functional state of the central nervous system (CNS) showed the presence of changes in the processes of regulation of the CNS in 42.7% of schoolchildren engaged in using VR glasses. The analysis of the students’ mental performance indicators showed the presence of changes characterizing the development of high degrees of fatigue in 38.1% of students. Limitations. The limitation of the study is its specificity in relation to the educational institution under study, the contingent of the examined persons, as well as the technical characteristics of the VR glasses model under study. Conclusion. The conducted research shows the use of VR glasses in the learning process to cause no functional disorders on the part of the CNS, visual analyzer, and neuromuscular apparatus. However, the presence of schoolchildren who have observed changes in the processes of regulation of the CNS, as well as changes characterizing the development of high degrees of fatigue, predetermine the need to continue research.

Introduction. With the expansion of the range of applications of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) in various fields of economic activity, the risk of exposure of the population and workers to nanomaterials increases. The physicochemical properties of NPs, differed from microparticles (MPs) of a chemical analogue, may determine the development of more pronounced negative effects associated with exposure to nanomaterials. In this regard, to increase the effectiveness of preventive measures, there is needed research aimed at studying and clarifying the pathogenetic features of the toxicity of CuO NPs, other than MPs, under their long-term entering the body through various routes. The aim of the study. To characterise of the toxic effects of CuO NPs and MPs caused by their biodistribution and bio-accumulation during chronic inhalation exposure in an experiment. Materials and methods. The physical properties of CuO NPs were studied in comparison with MPs. In a chronic inhalation experiment on Wistar rats, the features of bioaccumulation and morphofunctional disorders caused by CuO NPs when exposed to a concentration of 0.012 mg/m3 for 180 days, distinctive from MPs, were studied and identified. Results. CuO NPs, in comparison with MPs, have a smaller size (by 305 times), a larger specific surface area (by 9.6 times) and a total pore volume (9.3 times), which determines the greater penetrating ability of NPs. CuO NPs have a more pronounced biodistribution compared to MPs, which is noted by the number of organs with an increased concentration of the substance (with exposure to NPs – in the lungs, live,r and kidneys, by 1.43–2.29 times higher relative to the control; with MPs exposure – in the lungs, by 1.35 times). NPs have a more pronounced degree of bio-accumulation in the lungs, liver, and kidneys (1.43–2.32 times) compared to MPs. Exposure to CuO NPs causes changes in indicators of negative effects characteristic of the activation of the oxidative process (increase in MDA activity, decrease in AOA by 1.29–1.96 times relative to the control), inflammatory response (increase in the concentration of С-reactive protein (CRP) and the number of leukocytes by 1.8 times), impaired liver function (decrease urea content by 1.53 times), cytotolysis (increase in the activity of LDH, ALT, AST by 1.81–2.39 times). When exposed to MPs, the oxidative process, inflammation, and cytolysis were also noted, but the degree of changes in their parameters was 1.30–1.79 times less pronounced. When exposed to NPs in the lung tissues of rats, an abscess, pneumonia, bronchitis, vasculitis, and plethora develop; liver tissues – hepatitis, plethora; kidney tissues – proliferation of mesangial cells. In rats exposed to MPs, only hyperplasia of the peribronchial lymph nodes in the lungs was noted. Limitations. The study was carried out only with chronic inhalation exposure to CuO NPs and MPs on Wistar rats. Conclusion. CuO NPs have more pronounced biodistribution and bio-accumulation, which causes a greater spectrum and degree of manifestation of negative effects (activation of the oxidative process, inflammatory response, impaired liver function, cytolysis, pathomorphological changes in lungs, liver and kidney tissues) in comparison with the microsized chemical analogue. It is advisable to take into account the results obtained to increase the effectiveness of scientifically based recommendations aimed at preventing and minimizing negative effects in humans that arise from exposure to CuO NPs in the processes of production, consumption, and utilization of products containing them.

Introduction. Special attention is paid to the control of the purity of water resources. Pollution by the aquatic medium with organochlorine pesticides (OChPs) and their metabolites still remains a serious problem. The determination of toxicants in water, and even more so, contaminated with household and industrial wastewater, is complicated by the need for additional preliminary sample preparation for the stage of physical-chemical research. The purpose of the research is to develop a rapid method for determining OChPs using innovative technology for the isolation of organic compounds. Materials and methods. The objects of experimental study were model aqueous solutions of dichlorodiphenyltrichloretan (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldihloromethylmethane (DDD), dichlorodiphenyldihlorethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCCH) isomers and real objects. The determination of toxicants in drinking, marine, and sewage household water was carried out by extractive freezing-out (EF) into ethoxyethane in combination with gas chromatography. Results. The efficiency of extraction of OChPs by the EF method from water at the stage of sample preparation for gas chromatographic examination has been studied and confirmed. The results confirming the accuracy and low error in the determination of toxicants were obtained. Limitations. The pH range of the studied aqueous mixtures was from 3 to 7. It was previously established that in an alkaline medium there is a noticeable concentration decrease of some analytes over time, which requires additional study. Conclusion. A technique of the preliminary isolation of analytes by extractive freezing-out with subsequent gas chromatographic determination has been developed. The application field of the development is sanitary and hygienic control of the water quality. The method provides the determination of OChPs in a sample volume of 10 ml at a level below the established MPC with a relative error not exceeding 20%. Sample preparation is carried out in one step without any additional manipulations with the sample at subzero temperatures, which is favourable for improving working conditions and safety, since the volatility of solvents and components of the test sample is significantly reduced. The procedure is simple, there are no additional requirements for the qualification of a operator. It has a low cost, consumption of reagents and materials. The duration of the sample preparation stage does not exceed 30 minutes.