The Assessment of Radon Emissions as Results of the Soil Technogenic Disturbance.

222Rn is a specific indoor-type pollutant that represents a primary radiological hazard as a main source of ionizing radiation (IR) for humans. Coal mining creates new sources of gas that are formed over mines. This process can significantly increase the density of radon flux. Therefore, the concentration of radon in a room can increase. We investigated the territory of the Leninsk-Kuznetsky district of the Kemerovo region, which is subject to underground mining. Two groups of residential locations and measuring points of radon flux density were selected to identify the higher emanation relationship of radon and mining-affected areas. The first group (Case group) included subjects located within the territory of the underground mine; the other (Control group) included subjects in an area without mining. Radon flux density in coal mining areas was significantly higher than in the rest of the territory; moreover, the percentage of values in the Case group that had a radon flux density above 80 mBq·m-2·s-1 was 64.53%. For the Case group, 20.62% of residential buildings had a radon concentration above 200 Bq/m3. For the studied area, the radon flux density correlates positively (r = 0.79, p = 0.002) with indoor radon. Additional clastogenic/aneugenic effects are also found in dwellings with increased volume activity of radon (VAR) within the territories of underground mines. Ring chromosomes are positively correlated with radon levels in smoker groups but not in non-smokers. An increased frequency of binucleated (BN) cells with micronuclei (MN) is also positively correlated with VAR regardless of smoking status. It has been concluded that reducing the total exposure level of a population to radon can be achieved by monitoring areas with underground mines where radon is emitted heavily.

Associations of polymorphisms in the cytokine genes IL1ß (rs16944), IL6 (rs1800795), IL12b (rs3212227) and growth factor VEGFA (rs2010963) with anthracosilicosis in coal miners in Russia and related genotoxic effects.

Anthracosilicosis (AS), a prevalent form of pneumoconiosis among coal miners, results from the accumulation of carbon and silica in the lungs from inhaled coal dust. This study investigated genotoxic effects and certain cytokine genes polymorphic variants in Russian coal miners with АS. Peripheral leukocytes were sampled from 129 patients with AS confirmed by X-ray and tissue biopsy and from 164 asymptomatic coal miners. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in the extracted DNA samples: IL1ß T-511C (rs16944), IL6 C-174G (rs1800795), IL12b A1188C (rs3212227) and VEGFA C634G (rs2010963). Genotoxic effects were assessed by the analysis of chromosome aberrations in cultured peripheral lymphocytes. The mean frequency of chromatid-type aberrations and chromosome-type aberrations, namely, chromatid-type breaks and dicentric chromosomes, was found to be higher in AS patients [3.70 (95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.29-4.10) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.17-0.38)] compared to the control group [2.41 (95% CI, 2.00-2.82) and 0.09 (95% CI, 0.03-0.15)], respectively. IL1ß gene T/T genotype (rs16944) was associated with AS [17.83% in AS patients against 4.35% in healthy donors, odds ratio = 4.77 (1.88-12.15), P < 0.01]. A significant increase in the level of certain chromosome interchanges among AS donors is of interest because such effects are typical for radiation damage and caused by acute oxidative stress. IL1ß T allele probably may be considered as an AS susceptibility factor among coal miners.

Enzymopenic Congenital Methemoglobinemia in Children of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Type I congenital methemoglobinemia is an autosomal recessive disorder. A high frequency of congenital methemoglobinemia has been reported among Native Americans inhabiting the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Other rare cases of congenital methemoglobinemia of types I and II have been reported in Japan and other countries. In Russia-namely, in Yakutia-a high frequency of type I congenital methemoglobinemia has been reported. In 2009, the Consultation Polyclinic of the Pediatric Center in Yakutsk city established a registry of children with congenital methemoglobinemia. In total, 43 patients were registered between 2005 and 2009. The median methemoglobin level was 13.5% (ranging between 4.2% and 33.9%) and physical examination revealed cyanosis of the skin and mucus membranes. There were significant positive relationships between percentage of methemoglobin and erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit among male patients, consistent with an upregulation of the hypoxic response. The prevalence per 100,000 children ranged from 12.7 to 47.0 in 3 geographic regions of Yakutia. Further research is needed to clarify the clinical consequences of congenital methemoglobinemia in the children of Yakutia and the reasons for the high variability in the prevalence of the condition.