Introduction. The proximity of mining enterprises to settlements contributes to the pollution of the soil cover with heavy metals. Crops grown in garden plots accumulate chemical elements and are an intermediate link in the “soil - plant - human” chain. Purpose of the work. Assessment of the level of anthropogenic load on the territory adjacent to the mining enterprise, based on the study of the translocation of metals in the soil - plant system. Materials and methods. For the purpose of hygienic assessment of the chemical composition of the soil and vegetable products grown on it, the content of 7 microelements was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. With the help of the coefficient of concentration of a chemical substance (Kc) and the total indicator of pollution (Zc), the level of chemical contamination of soils was determined. Using the total coefficient of anthropogenic load (Ka.n. = ∑Ci/PDUi), the territory was ranked according to the contamination of vegetables with toxic elements. The rate of accumulation of metals by vegetable crops was assessed by the coefficient of biological absorption (Ax) and the index of biochemical activity of the species (BAS). Results. The soil cover in the district is contaminated with a complex of metals, the content of gross forms of which exceeds the MPC by up to 1.9 times, mobile - up to 4.6 times. At a distance of up to 5 km around the mining enterprise, the maximum indicators of the total soil pollution (Zc = 44-65) have been established. Lead and zinc are elements of “biological accumulation” for all types of studied vegetable products grown in the zone of influence of the mining enterprise; cadmium is additionally concentrated in beets and carrots, and nickel in carrots. In vegetable samples, exceeding the permissible levels of cadmium and lead was noted. The most significant accumulation of heavy metals was found in the southern, southeastern, northern and northwestern directions from emissions. Conclusion. To eliminate the toxic effects of heavy metals in vegetables produced in the zone of influence of mining enterprises, it is recommended to include additional monitoring of nickel and zinc content in the social and hygienic monitoring system.

Introduction. Agricultural crops grown on garden plots are mainly used for personal consumption, are not subject to safety control, and therefore, the chemical composition of the produced crop products may significantly affect the accumulation or deficiency of chemical elements in the human body. Material and methods. To assess the chemical composition of the main products of plant origin produced in the regions of the Republic of Bashkortostan with different economic specialization, the content of 9 trace elements in carrots, table beets and potatoes was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (n = 353). Using the total coefficient of anthropogenic load (Ka.n. = ∑Ci/PDUi), the territory of the Republic was ranked according to the degree of contamination of vegetable crops with toxic elements (lead, cadmium). The influence of trace elements contained in crop products on the health of the region’s population was studied using the risk assessment method. Results. Vegetables with a high content of cadmium (10.8% of the analyzed samples) occupy the largest share in the total volume of crop production that does not meet hygiene standards. When ranking the territory of the Republic on the basis of health risk assessment and the degree of contamination of vegetable crops with toxic elements, territories with a developed mining and petrochemical industry were found to be most unfavorable zones. Conclusion. The content of chemical elements in vegetable crops produced on household plots varies in a wide range, depending on the type of plant products and the place of growth. The lack of standards for the permissible content of certain trace elements in food raw materials and food products, which are priority pollutants in a number of regions, and safety control of products produced in private farms increase the risk of consumption of contaminated products by the population.

Introduction. A comprehensive hygienic research was aimed at studying the actual nutrition in primary school children living in the city of Ufa and the large village of Iglino. Materials and methods. The nature and structure of the actual diet of the students was studied by the method of 24-hour reproduction of the diet, one day prior to the survey. The findings were compared with measures of norms of physiological energy and food requirements for children and adolescents. The study involved seven hundred 7-11 year students of grades 1-4 from nine schools in Ufa (460 cases) and village of Iglino (240 children). Results. The diet in children of the studied group is adequate in energy value and consumption of proteins and fats. The amount of carbohydrate consumption is reduced relative to the norms of physiological needs (NPN) by 25%, but at the same time the share of admission with the diet of simple carbohydrates exceeds the norm. Increased intake of added salt 1.4-fold revealed. The average daily diet is provided with vitamins, but is deficient in calcium, the intake of which is 68% of the NPN. The actual nutrition of younger schoolchildren living in the city of Ufa is characterized by the excess intake of sodium is almost 4 times. The Ca : Mg to Ca : P ratio is broken. The distribution of calories in individual meals made it possible to identify a reduced share of calories in breakfast (19% instead of 25%) and dinner (22% instead of 35-40%). Limitations. The study analyzed only the actual nutrition of children aged 7-11 years. In the future, it is planned to study the nutrition of schoolchildren of other age groups. Conclusion. The main nutritional disorders in primary school children are expressed in increased consumption of saturated fatty acids, simple carbohydrates and added salt. In combination with calcium deficiency and excess sodium, such an imbalance can further cause the risk of developing alimental-dependent diseases.

Introduction. This article presents the results of experimental simulation of the acute toxic effect of cadmium on the rat organism, its distribution in the liver, and kidneys. Activation of the protective mechanism against toxic metal through the metallothionein protein has to reduce the bioavailability of free cadmium. Material and methods. The study was conducted on rats weighing 140-190 g, which was once intragastrically injected with cadmium chloride in an amount of 1/20 LD50. We studied the time intervals: before intoxication, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, and 96 hours after inoculation. The accumulation of cadmium in the liver and kidneys was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The expression of the metallothionein gene (МТ1, МТ2А, МТ3) was determined using RT-PCR on RNA isolated from the same organs. Results. Quantitative differences in the metal content in the liver and kidneys are observed 1 hour after intoxication, with a cadmium content of 250 and 125 times higher than in the control groups, respectively. There is an accumulation of cadmium in the liver with a maximum after 6 hours, and then its redistribution to the kidneys. The pronounced expression of metallothionein with a single acute exposure to cadmium is tissue-specific, so the expression of the MT1 and MT2A genes was greatest in the liver and the MT3 gene in the kidneys. Discussion. After administration cadmium is mainly localized in hepatocytes and its concentration may exceed the ability of metallothionein to bind cadmium ions, which leads to histopathological changes in the liver. In response to the intake of metal in the cell, the expression pattern of many genes, including those associated with the activation of protective reactions, changes. Conclusion. Our data show a single exposure to cadmium to lead to an increase in the content of MT transcript in the liver and kidneys, simultaneously with the accumulation of metal in them. The nature of this accumulation depends on the organ, on the time of exposure, and gene expression also on the form of MT.

Introduction. This article presents the results of studying the effects of cadmium chloride and its accumulation in experimental animals’ liver, kidneys, and blood. The impact of cadmium consumption on basic bioelements (zinc, copper, calcium) in organs was assessed. Materials and methods. Experimental groups of white outbred rats were exposed daily for three months to a cadmium chloride solution containing 1, 10 and 100 μg of cadmium. Cadmium exposure was assessed at 1, 4, 12, 30, 60 and 90 days. The concentrations of cadmium, calcium, copper and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results. Whole blood cadmium concentration was not statistically different from the control group. The accumulation of cadmium in the blood was observed only after three months of exposure to a dose of 100 μg. The accumulation of cadmium in the liver occurred after one and two months of intoxication, depending on the dose. In the kidneys, an increase in cadmium occurred in all experimental groups after one month of injection. The metal content depended on the level of exposure, but no difference was observed between the liver and kidney. The concentration of zinc and calcium decreased in the kidneys and liver. Conclusion. Changes in calcium and zinc, accompanied by elevated levels of cadmium in the liver and kidneys, suggest that cadmium may interfere with the biological processes in which these elements are involved.