Introduction. The purpose of this study was to study and assess the elemental status of residents of the Kirov region as a part of the Volga Region Federal District (VFD). Material and methods. The content of elements in the hair of 295 men and women (73 and 222, respectively, 25-50 years old) and 120 boys and girls (46 and 74, respectively, 3-15 years old) were studied using massspectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. This indicator serves an index in assessing the impact of environment on human organism. Methods of non-parametric statistics were used for the mathematical simulation of our data. Results. It was found that women, girls and boys compared with other regions of the VFD are characterized by a relative increase in the absolute content (median) in the hair of Mg, Fe, V. For people living in the territory of the Kirov region a relative increase in the Si level in the hair is characterized with exception of boys. The relatively reduced level of Cu (with the exception of women) and Se (with the exception of men) also make oneself conspicuous. Discussion of the results. The main problems associated with a decrease in the content of Cu and Se compounds, as well as an increase in the content of Si, Mg, Fe and V, most likely have a geochemical nature and, in particular, are associated with the chemical composition of drinking water. The hair of children in a greater degree than in adults is shown to be a biological substrate, the elemental composition of which indicates to ecological and social factors, the quality of products and the development of the health care system. Conclusions. The obtained data can be recommended for the use as reference values in assessing the level of chemical compounds in the hair of adults and children living in the territory of the Kirov region.

Introduction. The objective of the study is an assessment of dietary iron, iodine, and zinc content in school dinners in Tajik schoolchildren, as well as the influence of the use of fortified products supplied by the UN World Food Programme. Material and methods. The investigation is performed in two types of schools located in Penjikent and Ayni regions of the Tajikistan Republic. Type 1 schools were not involved in the program of school nutrition improvement, whereas type 2 schools took part in the WFP UN program on the supply of fortified products, as well as the governmental program on improvement of infrastructure and provision of hot meals. Results and discussion. Iron, iodine, and zinc content in fortified wheat flour supplied by WFP UN exceeded the respective values of the local product by a factor of 2.3, 14, and 4.7. Iodized salt (WFP UN) was characterized by an 11-fold increase in iodine content as compared to the locally used salt. The use of fortified wheat flour and iodized salt in type 2 schools for the preparation of school dinners should provide an increased dietary intake of iron, iodine, and zinc by a factor of 2.5, 12, and 4, when compared to type 1 schools, respectively. Conclusion. Therefore, WFP UN along with governmental efforts aimed at improvement of school meals provided from 50% to 100% of the recommended dietary allowance for iron and zinc, whereas in the case of iodine even exceeded recommended values, being indicative of the efficiency of the efforts. At the same time, such programs should be supported by trace element monitoring in the organism for assessment of both efficiency and safety.