[Risk factors for reproductive dysfunction under the influence of a territorial industrial complex].

Ambient air and soil were studied; reproductive-age women were examined. The influence of the Balkhash mining-and-metallurgic plant as a risk factor for reproductive dysfunction was evaluated. In terms of the hygienic integral index, the pollution of the town of Balkhash was estimated to be strong. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the increased rate of chromosomal aberrations of mainly those of chromosomal type (71.5%) infertileage women. Analysis of the spectrum of congenital malformations confirms the occurrence of induced mutagenesis in the population.

[Distribution of heavy metals in organs of experimental animals subjected to dust inhalation].

Biologic substrates of experimental animals characterize mainly overall metals intake and could serve as criteria for environmental pollution degree.

[Thyroid functional activity in an experiment upon exposure to manganeferous dust].

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of polymetallic manganeferous dust on thyroid function in an experiment. Biochemical and cytological studies were used. Seventy-day exposure caused decreased thyroid hormonal levels and thyroid cellular composition changes, which suggest that the dust in question has a cytotoxic effect. A prolonged (3-month) exposure provided evidence that suggests the tension of adaptive mechanisms in the thyroid system under the influence of a toxic factor. Nitric oxide was found to take an active part in the formation of adaptive mechanisms in thyroid tissue.

[Accumulation of heavy metals in biologic materials of mining workers and of nearby population]. / Nakoplenie tiazhelykh metallov v biosubstratakh rabochikh gornorudnykh predpriiatii i naseleniia blizlezhashchikh raionov.

The article contains results concerning spectral analysis of biologic materials (blood and hair) for heavy metals content. These results helped to reveal health risk factors for workers engaged into chromium ores extraction and for nearby residents.

[Genetic state of population living on soils polluted with heavy metals]. / Geneticheskii status naseleniia, prozhivaiushchego v usloviiakh zagriazneniia pochv tiazhelymi metallami.

The study covered heavy metals content of soil at various distances from industrial enterprises. The parameters studied are level of micronuclei in peripheral RBC, frequency and spectrum of chromosomal aberrations in WBC of residents. Finding is increased mutation pace induced by mutagens. Soil pollution with heavy metals appeared a risk factor for genetic instability.

[Biochemical and hormonal characteristics of workers engaged into mining manganese-containing ores]. / Osobennosti biokhimicheskogo i gormonal'nogo statusa u rabochikh v usloviiakh otkrytoi dobychi marganetssoderzhashchei rudy.

Medical examination of workers engaged into digging of manganous ores proved correlation between nitrogen oxide level in expired air and rhinocytogram parameters, revealed sensitivity of cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems to polymetallic dust.

[The informative value of biochemical and cytochemical markers in laboratory animals during field tests]. / Informativnost' biokhimicheskikh i tsitokhimicheskikh markerov u laboratornykh zhivotnykh pri naturnykh issledovaniiakh.

Field tests (delivery of animals to differently polluted areas having) were carried out. The criterial significance of biochemical and cytochemical tests of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from the animals was defined. The biochemical tests revealed significant changes in total protein, cholesterol, phospholipids, phospholipase A, histamine, serotonin, and others, which indicates metabolic dysfunction in BAL. The findings suggest that the lysosomal cell membranes are disorganized and the permeability of cell mitochondrial membranes is impaired. Thus, analyzing the findings makes it possible to identify the key links of damages and to define the true significance of environmental factors in realizing the mechanisms of pulmonary preabnormality.

[The informational significance of metal bioaccumulation in the hair of preschool children]. / Informatsionnoe znachenie biokumuliatsii metallov v volosakh u detei doshkol'nogo vozrasta.

Hair and urine metal accumulation was studied in healthy children living in different pollution areas. The levels of biogenic amines, the activity of the enzymes LDH, AP, and cholinesterase were also determined in the exhaled air condensate (EAC) and urine. High accumulation of metals, low EAC levels of biogenic amines, high activity of the urine enzymes were observed in the children residing in high polluted areas. At the same time these changes were less marked in the moderately polluted areas. The revealed changes allow one to select children at risk and to make health-promoting measures.