[Evolutionary conditioning of response to changes in ionic composition of water in hydrobionts: an example of freshwater zooplankton].

The situation in Karelian water bodies polluted with mining waste has been analyzed. As a result of technogenic wastewater discharge, the total ion content in lake waters has increased tens of times, and the concentration of potassium ions (the main component of wastewater), hundreds of times. Pollution tolerance of hydrobiont populations depends on the historically developed adaptation potential of species. The lowest tolerance to mineral pollution is characteristic of crustaceans representing mesolimnic families Polyphemidae, Sididae, Leptodoridae, Holopedidae, Diaptomidae, and Temoridae. Representatives of paleolimnic cristacean families Daphniidae, Bosminidae, and Cycopidae as well rotifer (Rotatoria) species of freshwater origin are highly tolerant of changes in the ionic composition of water.

[Features of change of the functional state as related to the development of disorders of the osteomuscular system in workers exposed to regional physical overloads coupled with vibration and noise]. / Osobennosti izmeneniia funktsional'nogo sostoianiia v sviazi s razvitiem zabolevanii kostno-myshechnoi sistemy u rabochykh, podvergaiushchikhsia vozdeistviiu regionarnykh fizicheskikh peregruzok v sochetanii s vibratsiei i shumom.

Physiological parameters were studied in industrial settings as well as in laboratory experiments and clinical examination characterizing the condition of the most important bodily systems in drivers of the technological motor transport and excavator operators working in the iron-ore open-cut mines. Differences have been revealed in the state of physiological indices in those workers with incipient manifestation of disorders of the osteomuscular system (OMS) as compared to workers in the identical service-duration group free from OMS disorders, suggesting individual sensitivity to exposure to regional physical overloads coupled with vibration and noise and warranting further studies on development of methods and criteria for individual sensitivity to exposure to the above factors in order that prophylaxis against OMS disorders might be improved.

[The role of labour conditions in the development of osteo-muscular system disorders in workers of the iron-ore industry]. / Otsenka roli uslovii truda v razvitii zabolevanii kostno-myshechnoi sistemy u rabochikh zheleznorudnoi promyshlennosti.

As a result of the investigation conducted, differences have been revealed of effects of the studied factors of labour conditions and its quantitative values on development of disorders of the osseomuscular system depending on the character of labour. In workers of basic occupations in iron-ore mines, the development of radiculopathy qualified as an occupational problem, has been shown to be determined by exposure to a complex of studied adverse factors of the occupational environment and labour process by 35% (very high degree of the effect exerted), including local vibration--by 14%, time of keeping a required working posture standing--by 7.2%, air temperature difference--by 7.4% (high and moderate degree of the effect exerted). The above adverse factors are to be considered in sanitary-and-hygienic characterization of the working place and taken account of in attempts to ascertain relatedness of the illness in question to the worker's occupation and in implementing measures designed to administer primary and secondary prophylaxis. In those workers engaged in occupations of the sensomotor kind operator's work, development of spinal osteochondrosis is determined by 25.4% by action of a complex of the studied factors of labour conditions; of this percentage, 22.4% have been shown to be caused by a number of working (operating) movements during the shift (very strong impact), which fact necessitates qualifying the condition as an occupational disease and suggests increase in the role of improvement in labour conditions in its prophylaxis.

[Causes of the technogenic changes in a freshwater zooplankton community]. / Prichiny tekhnogennogo izmeneniia soobshchestva presnovodnogo zooplanktona.

The situation in water bodies of northwestern Karelia in 1992-2001 was analyzed. As a result of waste discharge from the mining and ore-processing works, weakly mineralized hydrocarbonate-calcium waters changed into highly mineralized waters with the prevalence of potassium ions and sulfates. The total abundance and biomass of zooplanktonic communities decreased. Using the methods of principal components and partial correlations, differences in the responses of zooplankters to mineral pollution were revealed. Typical inhabitants of northern water bodies decreased in numbers, and the species Eudiaptomus gracilis Sars and Heterocope appendiculata Sars (Calanoida) disappeared. On the other hand, eurybiontic species prevailing in water bodies with higher mineralization manifested a positive reaction to the increase in the contents of dissolved mineral compounds. Toxicological experiments made it possible to estimate the survival threshold for E. gracilis and H. appendiculata: the populations of these crustaceans in the polluted water body perished when potassium concentration in water exceeded 50 mg/l.

[Evaluation of individual predisposition to development of musculoskeletal system diseases]. / Opredelenie individual'noi predraspolozhennosti k razvitiiu zabolevanii oporno-dvigatel'nogo apparata.

A technique was worked out on the basis of studying of physiological indices of the main and medical aid appealability concerning musculoskeletal system diseases (MSD), physical examination of workers. It will allow for certain determine the character of individual predisposition to the development of the disease and in 84% of the cases rather sooner predict the disease if a worker has high individual predisposition and in 55.2% of other cases. Combination of tension and pain sensitivity indices measuring up 21-80 and 1.1 mm and more; 81-160 and 1.0 mm and more; 161-220 and 0.9 mm and more; 221-300 and 0.8 mm and more; 301 and more, 0.7 mm and more accordingly characterize high individual predisposition; less 50 and 0.5 mm--tolerance to the disease. A risk of the development of musculoskeletal system diseases conditioned by individual predisposition from the mathematical analysis happened in 16.2%. Application of the method before receiving the job can both reveal individual predisposition to musculoskeletal system diseases and prevent from harmful industrial conditions. It will decrease a risk of the development of MSD, keep sound health and prolong professional activity.