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For the last two and a half decades, a network of human health experts under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) has produced several human health assessment reports. These reports have provided a base of scientific knowledge regarding environmental contaminants and their impact on human health in the Arctic. These reports provide scientific information and policy-relevant recommendations to Arctic governments. They also support international agreements such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Key topics discussed in this paper regarding future human health research in the circumpolar Arctic are continued contaminant biomonitoring, health effects research and risk communication. The objective of this paper is to describe knowledge gaps and future priorities for these fields.

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Serum levels of zincum, lead, nickel and mercury decrease in a row <>; average levels of manganese, cobalt, copper and arsenic are higher among females; in pregnant women serum levels of most metals are the lowest. If compared to the WHO. reference, levels of metals in whole blood demonstrated no excess in cobalt and cadmium, nearly absent - in arsenic, increased percentage of excess (but insignificant values) in copper and zincum, extremely high percentage of excess (and significant values) in manganese and nickel. Maximal manganese concentrations in blood reach 300 micrograms/I, those of nickel - 100 micrograms/I. Average blood concentrations of mercury in the examinees do not reach the most severe <> (S micrograms/1), and shares of men and women with blood concentrations of mercury over this limit are relatively small. Average blood concentrations of lead in the examinees do not reach lower allowable level (50 micrograms/1).

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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.

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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.

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Total average daily intake of metals with local food by natives equalled: Cu 2%, Pb 6%, Cd 22%, Hg 40%, Ni 66%, As 157%--in comparison with allowable daily intake. Mushrooms are responsible for total intake of 35% Pb, 55% Cu, 61% Ni and 91% Cd; fish gives 83% Hg and 75% As. The natives' exposure to Ni is caused by mushrooms, wild and cultivated berries and vegetables, exposure to Cd--by mushrooms, that to Hg--by freshwater fish, exposure to As--by salmon and cod. Drinkable water contribution into exposure to metals is negligibly small for Hg, Cd, Pb and Cu, mild for As and considerable for Ni (23%). Total carcinogenous risk with Cu and Pb are negligible, with Cd is 0.22, with Hg 0.39, with Ni 0.81, with As 1.62, with totality of metals for total foods and water--3.1. Total carcinogenous risks with Pb are minimal (less than 10(-6)), with Cd--allowable (less than 10(-5)), with As--average (less than 10(-3)), with Ni--high (10(-2)), with totality of metals for total foods and water--1.25 x 10(-2). Increased health risks revealed necessitate recommendations on reduction/exclusion of some local foods intake by the natives and measures on drinkable water purification from nickel, or usage of other sources of clear water.

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No associations of enhanced blood levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals with premature births and low birth weight have been revealed; regarding POPs an inverse but not statistically significant relationship was noted. Maternal blood levels of POPs were higher in cases of stillbirths and congenital malformations. Nevertheless no increased relative risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes has been revealed in regard to any PTS and the dose range. More exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other POPs females gave birth to girls more often. Higher POPs blood levels were noted in females with earlier menarche, shortened menstrual cycle and prolonged menstrual bleeding.

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The indigenous people of coastal areas show a low percentage of low chlorinated and dioxin-like PCB congeners (as opposed to mainland aborigines) with a significant proportion of the "triad" in the amount of PCBs. 5 years after the first survey the ratio of the analyzed groups of PCB congeners in the blood of parturients - mothers, as well as in the fetus - child in the coastal Chukotka remained unchanged, indicating that the equal share rate of clearance-accumulation of congeners and is almost equal share content of PCB congeners in the mother and child. The average duration of half-lives of PCB congeners (#105-187) from the mother's body was 4-6 years (for the sum of PCBs - 5.7 years), which is broadly consistent with the results of foreign studies. The composition of PCB congeners in the blood of the continental population significantly differs from those in the food, while coastal residents--similar to the composition of PCBs in marine mammals. The content of PCB congeners in the domestic sources of pollution has no resemblance to the composition of PCBs in the blood of the natives.

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In the indigenous dwellers of coastal Chukotka, blood DDT levels are 1.5-2 times higher than those of continental areas, which is due to the higher global DDT pollution of a sea food chain. The blood levels of 4,4-DDE in the reproductive-age women of coastal Chukotka are comparable to those in other Russian Arctic regions, slightly lower than in Greenland, but essentially higher than in Canada, Alaska and Scandinavian countries. Blood DDE/DDT ratio in the coastal indigenous dwellers is almost twice higher than that in the inland inhabitants, which is indicative of the "older" exposure of coastal people to DDT. There was an about equal (70-75%) decrease in 4,4-DDE and 4,4-DDT levels with a practically invariable ratio (12-15) and a nearly equal elimination half-life period (about 3.5 years) in the mothers of coastal Chukotka 5 years after the first examination. The elevated 4,4-DDE/4,4-DDT ratios in the tissues of sea mammals generally correspond to higher isomer ratios in the blood of coastal natives and relatively low 4,4-DDE/4,4-DDT ratios in the venison, fowl, and fish predetermine lower ratios in the blood of inland inhabitants. The extremely low of DDE/DDT ratio (0.4) in the washouts and scrapes from the kitchen walls of dwellings are conclusively associated with the recent application of DDT as a household insecticide.

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Northwest public health research center, Ministry of health and social affairs, St.-Petersburg. The article substantiates the conception of "office room", "office worker", estimates the basic diseases and symptoms among office workers (SBS-syndrome, BRI-illnesses, BRS-symptoms). Complex of indoor factors of office environment are analyzed, which influence the health status of personnel--indoor air quality (microclimate, aerosols, chemical, biological pollution, air ionization), external physical factors, ergonomics, intensity and tension of work, psychosocial factors. Comparison of Russian and foreign approaches to the hygienic estimation and rating of these factors was carried out. Owing to inadequacy of Russian hygienic rules to modern requirements, the necessity of working out of a complex of sanitary rules focused particularly on office workers is proved.

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A considerable reduction in the blood levels of stable organic pollutants (SOP) has been noted in the mothers of native ethnicities of costal Chukotka during a 5-year period, which may be accounted for by certain purification of food chains, altered diet with emphasis on delivered products, and long-term breastfeeding. The elevated level of SOP in children from birth to age 5 years is explained by long-term breastfeeding and the early consumption of local foods. The content of heavy metals (mercury and lead) in both maternal and children's blood has unchanged for 5 years. The children's infection morbidity has been quite high; at the same time no associations of the children's blood levels of toxic substances with the incidence of infectious diseases have been found. However, two children maximally exposed to SOP and metals have been observed to be rarely susceptible to diseases.

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The paper presents the results of an investigation of the blood levels of mercury, lead, and cadmium in women of indigenous ethnic groups in the Far North. A certain correlation was found between the higher incidence of some poor pregnancy outcomes and fetal maldevelopment upon increased maternal exposure to heavy metals. The found correlations were statistically insignificant. There was no significant association of female exposure to heavy metals with menstrual irregularities and the sex ratio of neonates.

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Experimental studies and digital modelling of artificial indoor air ionisation through bipolar ionisers mountable into inflow ventilation and conditioning proved possible creation of continuous even bipolar ion background in indoor air, similar to the natural one.

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The paper presents the general principles and procedure of the development and implementation of measures to decrease and prevent environmental pollution with persistent toxic substances (PTS) in the Russian Arctic and, accordingly, to reduce a risk of the deleterious effects of PTS on human health. Based on the results of a study of PTS in the Russian Arctic (from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka), the authors first systematized the basic lines and actions and formulated specific measures to reduce the North population's exposure to PTSs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, organic chlorine pesticides (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, etc.), and heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium). A package of measures is aimed at maximally reducing the presence of PTS-containing objects and materials in the north (via detection, collection, and extermination), at neutralizing the soils in settlement lands, at setting up safe water consumption systems, at organizing effective control over the safe use of chemicals and the levels of PTS in raw food materials and foodstuffs, and at working out recommendations on safe procedures for food purchase, storage, and cooking.

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As part of AMAP's human circumpolar study of POPs, an international effort was initiated to extend coverage to communities across the Russian Arctic. Two additional laboratories were invited to join the analytical component of this effort, resulting in four participating analytical centres. Although quality assurance measures were put in place, and the level of performance of the laboratories was generally acceptable, deficiencies in the analytical protocols used were recognized subsequent to the collection and analyses of the plasma specimens. The current paper describes the criteria employed to critically appraise the four data bases and guide their integration into a single data set. Summary statistics are presented for plasma concentrations of major PCBs, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, beta-HCH, and HCB for communities/regions across the arctic/subarctic Russian continent, and for one community located in the Aral Sea area of Uzbekistan (a control group). Highly exposed people were identified in the coastal communities of Chukotka, which appears mainly related to marine mammal intake, but recent pesticide use is also suspected. Other communities with intermediate levels of PCBs had relatively elevated beta-HCH, p,p'-DDT and HCB concentrations and low DDE/DDT ratios (<10), suggesting recent pesticide use.

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Long-range transport of pollutants towards circumpolar regions emphasizes the need for up-to-date and reliable biological monitoring data. This paper explores the use, reliability and availability of maternal blood (MB) and plasma (MP), cord blood (CB) and plasma (CP) and mother's milk (MM) in terms of assessing exposure to persistent toxic substances (PTSs). It is concluded that MP has the best combination of availability, sensitivity in terms of number of PTSs, their detection frequency and concentrations, and physiological relevance. The study group consisted of 48 pregnant women of indigenous origin from the Chuchki district in the eastern Russian arctic. Blood, CB and MM specimens were collected from all women and MP, CP and MM were analyzed for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) suite of organochlorines (OCs) and metals (Pb and Cd in MB and CB). Generally speaking, the levels of PTSs coincided with those indicated in several AMAP publications from Chukotka and other areas of northern Russia. The correlations of PTS concentrations between the three body fluid compartments exceeded the minimum statistical requirements of alpha = 0.05 and beta = 0.20 for most of the compounds, with r > 0.46 except for Cd (r = 0.05); lipid adjustments for the OCs did not affect the r-values to any significant extent. The majority of the inter-OC correlations within compartments also fulfilled the indicated statistical condition. Careful consideration is given to the replacement of concentrations below the detection limit, OC detection frequency, the criteria for log-transformation of the data, analytical uncertainty, and biological variability. Practical implications of the findings are explored.

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The authors considered contemporary methods of air ions dosimetry, suggested new approaches to dosimetry of ions in air, set new concepts for exposure and absorbed dose rate. The article covers experimental results and method determining absorbed dose rate under exposure to air ions.

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The article deals with results of complex hygienic and psychologic study of medical and ecologic situation in two deer-breeding settlements of Kolsky North. The authors presented data on nutritional features, some aspects of deer-breeders' household character, psychologic state of population. The materials contain hygienic evaluation of the deer-breeders' radiation load caused by incorporated cesium.

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OBJECTIVES: Investigation was carried out within the framework of the large-scale international project "Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS), Food Security and Indigenous People of the Russian North" under RAIPON/AMAP/GEF aegis. Objectives of the project are to obtain comprehensive information on exposure of indigenous populations to contaminants through food chains (and other sources), and to investigate the possible health effects connected to this exposure. Four regions of Russia are involved in the project: Kola Peninsula (Murmansk oblast), Nenetsk okrug (Pechora river basin), Taimyr Peninsula, Chukotka Peninsula. METHODS: Questionnaire and paired sampling of maternal/cord blood among indigenous women at childbirth (more than 250 persons) as well as among general indigenous population (more than 1,400 persons), additionally breast milk sampling of lactating women (more than 50 persons) in Chukotka was conducted. About 700 blood samples have been analyzed at the Center for Environmental Chemistry, SPA "Typhoon" (Obninsk, Russia), the Regional Center "Monitoring of the Arctic", RCMA (St. Petersburg, Russia), the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU (Tromso, Norway) and at INSPQ (Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: On the whole, PTS in human blood of the Russian Arctic natives are similar to those in the coastal areas of Greenland and Canada, and for some POPs such as toxaphenes and mirex, these levels are lower.

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