Introduction: Despite all preventive measures constantly taken, high incidence of occupational diseases is still registered in workers of copper-nickel enterprises. Objective: To obtain new knowledge about the conditions, timing, structure and frequency of occupational diseases in order to develop methods for their more effective prevention in workers involved in pyrometallurgical copper-nickel ore processing. Materials and methods: We have analyzed incidence rates of occupational diseases in a cohort of 664 workers who processed copper-nickel ore in 2007–2020. Results: Working conditions during pyrometallurgical processing of copper-nickel ore correspond to hazard classes 3.2–3.4 with the chemical exposure being of paramount importance in the development of health disorders (45.6 % of cases). In 2007, 664 workers were examined and 158 occupational diseases were diagnosed in 65 (9.8 %) of them in the years 2008–2020, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases being the most prevalent categories (50.6 % and 29.1 %, respectively) and chronic bronchitis and sensorineural hearing loss – the most prevalent diseases (27.8 % and 17.1 %, respectively). We established non-occupational disorders (arthralgia, osteochondrosis, early signs of hearing impairment, etc.) contributing to further development of occupational diseases. Smoking history (> 5 packs/year) was found to promote occupational diseases of the respiratory system (RR = 4.84; 95 % CI: 2.51–9.35). Crane operators (17.5 % of the workers) were found to be at highest risk of occupational diseases (366.1 cases per 10,000 workers). Conclusions: Based on data on previously registered occupational diseases, working conditions, length of service, occupation, and clinical conditions, criteria for five risk categories have been developed to predict occupational diseases by time, nosology, and severity of the course in metallurgists involved in copper-nickel ore processing.

Introduction: The constant growth of plastic production accompanied by its insufficient disposal has led to global environmental pollution and potential risks to biota and human health. Objective: To analyze scientific literature data on the risks posed by plastics for biota and public health in Russia. Materials and methods: We have studied scientific publications indexed in international (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed) and domestic (Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI)) databases in 2012–2022 and searched for using the following keyword combinations: microplastics & biota, microplastics & human health. We reviewed 60 Russian and English-language literary sources giving preference to national studies published in journals included in the RSCI core collection and to foreign studies published in the journals indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus (Q1–Q2). Results: Many potential threats to biota and humans are associated with plastics. Macro-sized (> 5 mm) plastic debris pose the highest risk to mammals and other large fauna while microparticles are dangerous for small mammals as they cause eating, movement, and reproductive disorders. Toxic substances, primarily bisphenols and phthalates that migrate from plastic containers into food and liquids, pose the greatest risk to human health. Yet, in real life, concentrations of these toxicants in food products do not exceed hygienic standards, and health disorders in experimental animals have been observed following the exposure to higher than naturally found levels of plastic contaminants. Adverse effects of plastic micro- and nanoparticles (< 0.001 mm) on blood cells, immune and inflammatory processes, apoptosis, etc., have been established. Yet, no human diseases can be convincingly associated with plastic exposure nowadays. Conclusions: Many questions about the impact of toxic degradation products of plastic, its micro- and nanoparticles on biota and humans remain unresolved. It is therefore important to use potentially less toxic and biodegradable types of plastic, boost their recycling rates, raise public awareness on plastic pollution, and promote ubiquitous separate waste collection.

Introduction: Literary sources present rather contradictory data on the health of oil and gas industry workers in the Russian Arctic, which requires additional research. Objective: To assess causes and circumstances, structure and number of occupational diseases among employees engaged in hydrocarbon extraction in the Arctic. Materials and methods: We studied data of the public health monitoring on working conditions and occupational diseases in the Russian Arctic and the registry of extracts from occupational disease records (Order 176 of the Russian Ministry of Health dated May 28, 2001). The retrieved data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2016 and Epi Info statistical software, version 6.04d. Results: We have revealed a pronounced contrast in working conditions and the number of occupational diseases between coal miners in the Komi Republic (city of Vorkuta) and Chukotka Autonomous Area, on the one hand, and oil and gas production workers of the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Areas, on the other, in the years 2007–2021. We estimated that 85.1 % of miners and only 3.1 % of gas and oil workers were employed at facilities characterized by extreme sanitary and epidemiological ill-being. Miners were diagnosed with 98.2 % of all occupational diseases registered in workers employed in the extraction of hydrocarbon resources, and the occupational disease incidence in them (201.71 per 10,000 workers) was 492 times higher than that in oil and gas workers (0.41 per 10,000). The most prevalent occupational diseases in the miners were chronic bronchitis (21.3 %), radiculopathy (21.0 %), and mono- and polyneuropathy (10.3 %) while workers of oil and gas companies mainly suffered from sensorineural hearing loss (46.3 %), radiculopathy (18.5 %), and vibration disease (16.7 %). Conclusion: Our findings confirm good health of oil and gas workers and necessitate urgent priority measures aimed at improvement of working conditions and all types of prevention of occupational conditions in coal miners working in the Arctic.

A method for modeling and assessing the degree of air pollution in Technogenically disturbed areas based on fractal analysis is proposed.

Кульнев Вадим Вячеславович, кандидат географических наук, ведущий специалист-эксперт, отдел государственного экологического надзора по Воронежской области Центрально-Черноземного межрегионального управления Федеральной службы по надзору в сфере природопользования, Воронеж,