Introduction. Based on an expert assessment of the impact of hospital environmental factors on patient recovery and staff health, as well as taking into account the results of a comprehensive hygienic assessment of the main physical, chemical, and biological factors affecting humans in inpatient medical facilities (IMFs), a list of priority indicators for the quality and safety of the hospital environment for premises for various functional purposes has been substantiated.

Material and methods. To assess the impact of hospital environmental factors on patient recovery and staff health, a 23-member expert group was formed, including hospital hygiene specialists, physicians, architects, and designers. A comprehensive hygienic assessment of bacterial, viral, and fungal contamination of the air and various surfaces, as well as chemical contamination and physical factors, was conducted in the main functional areas of the maternity hospital, treatment buildings of the municipal clinical hospital, and the research institute.

Results. The main indicators of the quality and safety of the indoor environment of the Inpatient medical institutions premises, in terms of their impact on the processes of patient health restoration, were established to be: at the first place there is the contamination of the air with bacteria, viruses, and fungi; at the second place there are the temperature and humidity parameters in the premises; the third place is occupied by the presence of chemical pollutants in the air; and at the fourth place there is the ionizing radiation; followed by noise conditions and artificial lighting of the premises. Moreover, in operating rooms, dressing rooms, procedure rooms and operating units, in addition to bacterial and viral contamination, artificial and natural lighting are of primary importance: in treatment rooms – microclimatic parameters, noise level, gas composition of the air; in treatment, diagnostic and laboratory rooms – EMF intensity, noise levels; in physiotherapy rooms – air temperature and relative humidity, EMF, noise levels, fungal contamination of the air; in auxiliary rooms (food blocks, buffets, halls, corridors) – noise load.

Limitations. The results of this study do not apply to the premises of field mobile hospitals.

Conclusion. Hospital environmental factors were ranked based on their impact on patient recovery and the occurrence and spread of Health-care associated infections (HAIs). A list of priority indicators for the quality and safety of the hospital environment was identified, taking into account the functional purpose of the premises.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a biomedical ethics committee opinion or other documents.

Contributions:
Zhernov Yu.V. – concept and design of the study, editing;
Kalinina N.V. – concept and design of the study; data collection and processing, text writing;
Zagainova A.V. – data collection and processing, statistical processing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The work was carried out within the framework of the state assignment with the code "Risk indicator 25–27", registration number EGISU 125032604484-5.

Received: August 18, 2025 / Revised: November 11, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. The problem of biofilms in drinking water supply systems is well-studied; however, their presence in bottled water requires additional attention.

The aim of the study was to assess the microbiological composition and potential risk of transparent suspensions (sediment) found in bottled natural mineral table non-carbonated drinking water.

Materials and methods. A comprehensive sanitary-microbiological study of the water was conducted. The standard analysis for compliance with the requirements of TR EAEU 044/2017 included the determination of standardized indicators (TVC, Coliform bacteria, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, enterococci) according to GOST 34786–2021. For the analysis of suspensions, there were used methods of concentrating large volumes of water (1 and 3 dm³) by centrifugation and membrane filtration followed by inoculation onto nutrient media (Nutrient Agar, Endo Agar, Sabouraud Agar, Brolacin agar, MRS agar) by the direct method and via thioglycolate enrichment broth. Species identification of all grown colonies was performed using time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Additional studies for coliphages and parasitological objects were also conducted.

Results. A standard analysis of two hundred fifty cm³ of water did not detect E. coli, coliform bacteria (BGKP), or other regulated pathogens. An excess of the standard for total microbial count (TMC) at 22 °C by a factor of 2 (289 CFU/cm³) was recorded; however, according to TR EAEU 044/2017, this test was not required in this case. After concentrating 1 and 3 dm³ of water, diverse microorganisms were identified in the suspended solids, including Escherichia coli, Kocuria rhizophila, Micrococcus luteus, Aquabacterium parvum, Microbacterium testaceum, as well as the fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Syncephalastrum racemosum. Coliphages and parasitic objects were not detected.

Limitations. The study was conducted once on one batch of bottled natural mineral drinking water. It is necessary to conduct a series of similar studies on biofilms of a different composition to confirm the correctness of the developed tactics.

Conclusion. The results demonstrate that standard control methods based on the analysis of small volumes (up to 250 cm³) may be insufficient to detect microbiological contamination present as local aggregates (suspensions or biofilms) in bottled water. The detection of E. coli after concentration indicates fecal contamination and a potential epidemiological risk. The obtained data justify the need to develop and implement extended control protocols, including the concentration of representative water volumes and use of enrichment media, to ensure the safety of packaged drinking water.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the conclusion of the Biomedical Ethics Committee.

Contribution:
Alekseeva A.V. – study concept and design, writing the text, collecting material and processing data, editing, approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Zagaynova A.V. – study concept and design, editing;
Rakhmanin Yu.A., Rusakov N.V. – editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Kurbatova I.V., Kravchenko K.S. – collecting material and processing data.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: June 6, 2025 / Revised: November 27, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Obnoxious odors in ambient air in industrial centers are a significant medical and social issue.

The aim of this study is to develop and test methodical approaches to identifying potential obnoxious odor sources in residential areas of regions with developed industries using fuzzy logic and systematic hybrid data analysis.

Materials and methods. We have developed and tested a complex eight-stage methodology for identifying priority obnoxious odor sources in the urban environment. The suggested approaches have been tested using actual data collected in a large industrial center. Fuzzy logic is used as a method for identifying areas where odor sources are likely to be located. Within the method, an odor is given as a linguistic variable that considers people’s complaints and meteorological conditions. We have analyzed one thousand nine hundred twenty seven people’s complaints about obnoxious odors and meteorological parameters (2022–2024), ambient air monitoring data (automated pollution control stations, readings taken at representative points (GC-MS)) and have accomplished computational simulation of 23 olfactory-active substances together with calculating source contributions, sensor estimates, GIS-modeling, and graphic spatial analysis.

Results. Testing of the developed universal algorithms has established 249 chemicals to be olfactory active out of total 375 ones emitted into ambient air. We have found a spatial-temporal correlation between complaints, meteorological conditions and time: 67% complaints are made when the wind speed is 0–1 m/sec; the peaks are reached in the evening (59.3%) and morning (22.4%). Chemical levels systematically higher than single maximum MPC have been confirmed by field observations: hydrogen sulfide (up to 17.5 MPC), formaldehyde (up to 3.2 MPC), and ammonia (up to 1.5 MPC). We have identified three zones where obnoxious odor sources are likely to be located in the analyzed area (15.85–31.8 km²); these zones correspond to industrial clusters. Ranking of 21 enterprises as potential pollutant sources has established 6 priority ones creating >80% of the total contribution to concentrations of odor chemicals in places where people’s complaints are usually made.

Limitations. The results are based on routine operation of obnoxious odor sources; emergency situations have not been analyzed.

Conclusion. The developed universal approach to identifying obnoxious odor pollution sources under uncertainty has been found to be effective in variable meteorological conditions and to be ready for testing in other areas with similar problems.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require approval by an ethical committee or any other documents.

Contributions:
Zaitseva N.V. – study concept and design;
Patyashina М.А., Prokofyeva М.V. – data collection, editing the text;
Kleyn S.V. – study concept and design, data collection, writing the text;
May I.V., Kiryanov D.А. – study concept and design, editing the text;
Klyachin А.А. – data collection and analysis, writing the text;
Chigvintsev V.М. – data collection and analysis.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: July 23, 2025 / Revised: November 19, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Objective. A comprehensive analysis of current data on oil pollution of soils as a source of hygienic hazard, including an assessment of the impact on human health and analysis of the regulatory framework in the Russian Federation.

A review of more than forty scientific reports from Google Scholar, CyberLeninka, eLibrary, PubMed, and Scopus databases was conducted. The methodology included an assessment of the sources and extent of pollution, an analysis of the component composition and behavior of pollutants in soil, and a critique of the regulatory framework (SanPiN 1.2.3685–21, SanPiN 2.1.3684–21).

Oil pollution was shown to lead to the degradation of soil ecosystems and poses a multicomponent hazard to the health of occupational groups and the population living in oil-producing regions. The current sanitary regulations was found to fail to contain Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MACs) for oil and petroleum products in soil, which is a serious limitation for effective sanitary control. The existing methods for the total determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil are often non-selective and lack proper metrological certification for hygienic research.

Conclusion. Addressing the hygienic problem of oil pollution of soils requires consolidated efforts in the following areas: development and approval of differentiated MACs for oil and main petroleum products in soil; improvement and metrological certification of analytical control methods; implementation of scientifically based remediation technologies considering regional specifics. A comprehensive approach is a prerequisite for ensuring environmental safety and preserving public health.

Contributions:
Ibragimova S.Sh. – research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Ushakova O.V. – research concept and design, text writing, editing;
Evseeva I.S. – data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Vodianova M.A. – research concept, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was performed within the framework of the state assignment.

Received: October 1, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Carbohydrates, including dietary sugars and prebiotic oligo- and polysaccharides, can influence on the functional activity of probiotic bacteria by modulating their metabolic processes. An important property of prebiotics is the selective activation of endogenous protective populations of intestinal microflora, which helps to suppress the growth of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. However, the specificity of various prebiotic supplements for specific exogenous probiotic microorganisms remains unclear. Probiotics can be components of a wide range of foods and dietary supplements, so it is important to understand how various nutritional substrates influence on their metabolic and functional activity. This knowledge will enable the development of more effective products and supplements aimed at maintaining intestinal bacterial balance. ”In vitro” studies allow evaluating the effects of individual components on probiotic strains. In this work, the effect of various carbohydrate substrates on the antagonistic activity of exogenous probiotic strains Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium longum against a number of opportunistic microorganisms was studied.

Objective — to study the effect of various carbohydrate substrates, including well-known prebiotics, on the antagonistic activity of probiotic strains studied against opportunistic pathogens. The choice of a carbohydrate that improves the competitive properties of probiotic strains of L. paracasei and B. longum.

Materials and methods. The antagonistic activity of two probiotic strains against seven pathogenic microorganisms was studied in the presence of nine different carbohydrate substrates using a two-stage cultivation method in a combined system.

Results. Probiotic strains were established to exhibit selective antagonistic properties against the same pathogen, depending on the presence of a particular carbohydrate source. For example, lactose and sucrose were found to contribute to an increase in the degree of antagonistic activity of lactobacilli against Staphylococcus aureus from moderate to high relative to the control and other substrates, and inulin and FOS suppress the competitive properties of this strain relative to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The studied strain of Bifidobacterium longum exhibits moderate antagonistic activity against E. coli and C. jejuni, however, a number of substrates (sucrose, mannitol, inulin, chitosan) are capable of inhibiting this property. At the same time, substrates such as lactose, maltose, sucrose, chitosan, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine increase antagonistic activity from low to moderate against K.pneumoniae, P.aeruginosa, and A.baumannii. Based on the data obtained, it can be assumed that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG), mannitol, maltose, and lactose are of interest as substrates that increase the antagonistic potential of the studied strains against a number of opportunistic pathogens.

Limitations. Antagonistic activity in co-cultivation of probiotic strains has not been studied. It is also difficult to assess the functional properties of the studied strains depending on the prebiotic in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the effect of the concentration of carbohydrate substrates used in the work on the antagonism of target probiotic strains has not been studied.

Conclusion. We have identified a significant effect of the carbohydrate component on the antagonistic properties of the probiotic strains studied, which can be further taken into account in the development of probiotic compositions, synbiotics, and functional foods.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a conclusion from the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution:
Kalashnikova I.G. – concept and design of research, collection of material and data processing, writing text, conducting research;
Nekrasova A.I. – concept and design of research, editing;
Gritsyuk O.V., Fedets Z.E., Pankova M.N. – conducting research, methodology development;
Zagainova A.V. – providing research, project administration;
Zhernov Yu.V., Makarov V.V. – definition of the concept, attraction of financing, provision of research;
Yudin S.M. – attraction of financing, provision of research.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The work was performed within the framework of the state task No. 388-00154-22-00 “Creation of micellar probiotics of a new generation for targeted changes in the composition of the human microbiota in chronic non-communicable diseases”.

Received: October 2, 2025 / Revised: November 24, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome is known to significantly impact on human health and be involved in many metabolic processes. The composition of the intestinal microbiota is variable and depends on both endogenous and exogenous factors. Regional climatic and geographical factors influencing the composition of the intestinal microbiota have not been characterized for the population of the Russian Federation (RF). 39% of Russia’s area is in the taiga zone, 13% in the arctic desert, tundra, and forest-tundra zones, 6% in the mixed forest zone, 8% in the forest-steppe and deciduous forest zone, 5% in the steppe zone, 1% in the semi-desert zone, and 2% in the desert zone. Each climate zone is characterized by unique climatic conditions, so when assessing the composition of the intestinal microbiota of Russian residents, it is crucial to pay attention to the regional aspect as one of the key factors influencing on changes in the composition of the human microbiome. In addition to climatic and geographical factors, there are also cultural and socio-economic factors, which is confirmed by the results of many global population studies.

The aim of the study. Systematization of key exogenous factors shaping the gut microbiome: geographic features, urbanization level, climate conditions, and ethnic and national dietary patterns. Experts consider these factors when determining the relative norm for the composition of the human gut microbiota, diagnosing dysbiosis in both indigenous and non-native populations.

Material and Methods. This review is based on scientific studies published over the past ten years and presented in the PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and eLIBRARY.RU databases.

Conclusion. The review reveals the influence of region of residence on the intestinal microbiota parameters of relatively healthy individuals living in various climatic zones and areas with different levels of urbanization, which can be used to determine the normal flora for residents.

Contribution:
Nekrasova A.I. – text editing, collection, analysis, processing of materials, systematization and generalization of literature data;
Kalashnikova I.G. – collection of material and processing of literature data, text editing;
Makarov V.V. – text editing, concept and design of the review and analytical research;
Zhernov Yu.V. – text editing, concept and design of the review and analytical study.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: October 2, 2025 / Revised: November 18, 2025 / Accepted: November 19, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Dynamic olfactometry, with participation of a team of human panelists as sensors, was developed to quantify odor concentrations in samples of atmospheric air and model mixtures.

The aim of the work is to evaluate the informativity of a number of salivary biochemical and immunological parameters as possible markers of human olfactory acuity in model olfactometric study of emissions from food industry enterprises.

Materials and methods. Experimental study is based on the use of ECOMA T08 olfactometer, three food odorants with odors of orange, cognac and coffee, 10 panelists tested with n-butanol, standard methods for assessing cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, sIgA, NAG, α-amylase, intensity of luminol-enchanced chemiluminescence in the samples of mixed saliva of the participants

Results. An algorithm has been developed for the preprocessing of olfactometric data, optimal for their correlation analysis with saliva molecular parameters. Among 7 saliva markers under study, there is shown only one to be associated with human olfactory acuity in Spearman’s correlation test – IL-8 content (R= −0.392; p=0.032 with odor thresholds and close to reliable positive associations with perceived odor intensity in combined data matriх, N=30). Peculiarities of the scatterplot «odor thresholds/IL-8» suggest healthy persons with a sharper sense of smell to have more flexible mechanisms for releasing IL-8 in response to provoking changes in oral microbes, and this chemotactic signal, in turn, leads to timely attraction of blood neutrophils, reducing bacterial colonization and thickness of supraepithelial mucus, and so to more efficient binding of odorant molecules with olfactory receptors.

Limitations. Small sample sizes, although they correspond to the practical purposes of the European standard EN 13725.

Conclusion. The data obtained indicate that dynamic olfactometry, created as a practical tool for assessing odor concentrations in atmospheric air, can also be used to study the molecular mechanisms of olfaction.

Compliance with ethical standards. The consent of the Local Ethics Committee of the Centre for Strategic Planning of the Federal medical and biological agency of Russia was obtained for conducting of the research involving human participants (Protocol No. 3 of 08/17/2020). All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contributions:
Khripach L.V. – research concept and design, biochemical and ELISA assays, writing the article;
Knyazeva T.D. – biochemical and ELISA assays;
Andryushin I.B. – olfactometry;
Budarina O.V. – research concept and design, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: October 16, 2025 / Revised: November 11, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. One of the approaches to identifying a hazard to public health is the standard scenario method.

The aim – to test approaches to assessing exposure load under conditions of long-term exposure to mercury coming from the environment and industrial environment.

Materials and methods. Standard scenarios for men of three ages (20, 40, and 60 years) were considered; three urban residential zones (up to 3 km, 3–5 km, and more than 5 km from the combined industrial site); and two work options (at enterprises located on and off-site). Data from monitoring mercury concentrations in the atmospheric air of a “model city” and the air of the combined industrial site of an enterprise with a mercury electrolysis shop during various periods of its operation were used. Calculation and assessment of doses and hazard quotients were conducted in accordance with R 2.1.10.3968–23.

Results. During the period of active operation of the enterprise, the average annual concentrations of mercury in the atmospheric air in residential zone I of the “model city” were 0.00054 mg/m³, in zone II – 0.00046 mg/m³, in zone III – 0.000008 mg/m³. During the period of equipment dismantling the average annual values of mercury concentrations in the atmospheric air of the city decreased significantly and reached 0.0000001 mg/m³. In the post-operational period, mercury was not detected in the atmospheric air. The hazard coefficient value corresponds to the alarming level for men working at enterprises on the territory of the combined industrial site, in the following groups: 40 years – with a place of residence in zone I; 60 years – regardless of place of residence.

Limitations. The use of standard exposure conditions in scenarios that do not take into account the individual characteristics of daily exposure and the occupational route, including for male workers in the electrolysis shop, incomplete data on the long-term actual content of the pollutant in the air of the combined industrial site and residential area introduce uncertainties in the assessment of quantitative chronic exposure.

Conclusion. Modeling scenarios of long-term mercury exposure in men not exposed to the toxicant in their workplaces demonstrates the risk posed by mercury emissions from the air of the integrated industrial site during the operation of the enterprise.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the presentation of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contributions:
Mylnikova I.V. – data collection and analysis, scenario calculations, text writing;
Efimova N.V. – study concept and design, scenario development, text writing;
Savchenkov M.F. – study concept and design.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was carried out within the framework of the Exploratory Scientific Research "Development of technologies for a comprehensive assessment of the health of the population living in areas of accumulated damage from previous economic activity in single-industry towns in Siberia".

Received: June 2, 2025 / Revised: November 27, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. As a result of long-term economic activity of chemical plants in urban agglomeration areas, an increased accumulation of potentially hazardous toxic compounds has been observed.

Materials and methods. Biomonitoring, atomic absorption method, statistical analysis

Results. In vegetable samples collected in the Usolsky district, mercury levels ranged from 0.029 to 0.095 mg/kg (1.45–4.75 MPL), with the highest excess levels observed in carrots (0.091 and 0.093 mg/kg), peppers (0.092 mg/kg), onions (0.094 mg/kg), and cabbage (0.095 mg/kg). In the biological environments of the population of the Usolsky district revealed ecotoxicant levels over the range of 0.0–5.4 and 0.0–3.0 µg/l in urine and blood among adults, respectively, and 0.0–2.7 µg/l among children. The proportion of samples where mercury was not detected was 44.4% for blood, 38.0% for urine among adults, and 19.2% for urine among children.

Limitations. The conducted study took into account only the content of heavy metal (mercury) in vegetables and biological environments of the population.

Conclusion. Mercury contamination was confirmed by the results of post-operational analysis of vegetable products at the city-forming enterprise. Mercury levels exceeding the maximum permissible limit (0.02 mg/kg) were detected in 69.0% of vegetable samples (by 1.05–4.75 times). Median mercury concentrations in urine and blood among the surveyed population of the Usolsky district did not exceed permissible limits.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research, The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (2013 edition), did not infringe on the rights of the study subjects, did not endanger them. All participants and their legal representatives gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Zhurba O.M. – search for literature sources, data processing, text writing;
Merinov A.V. – search for literature sources, data processing, statistical processing, text writing;
Efimova N.V. – research concept and design, scientific consulting;
Katamanova E.V. – research concept, design and editing;
Savchenkov M.F. – research concept and design.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The work was carried out within the framework of funds allocated for the implementation of exploratory and scientific research of the state task East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research.

Received: October 30, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Given the relevance of air pollution, it is necessary to examine the effectiveness of projects aimed at improving environmental quality.

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of the “Clean Air” project using medical and environmental indicators, using the city of Bratsk as an example.

Materials and Methods. Data of monitoring for 2015–2024 in a city with a developed industrial and energy complex was analyzed. Health risks were characterized using hazard coefficients and indices (HQ, HI), relative risk of respiratory diseases. The indicators were calculated taking into account two periods, with 2022–2024 considered as the result of implementing a set of measures.

Results. In 2022–2024, the city saw a decrease in the content of 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene by 1.8 times, carbon disulfide by 3.2 times, nitrogen dioxide by 2.7 times, suspended matter by 1.9 times, and hydrogen fluoride by 1.7 times. This led to a decrease in the incidence of respiratory diseases in children: RR was 1.28 CI (1.19–1.37), the etiologic share of external factors (EF) is estimated at 21.8%, for ARI – 1.28 CI (1.22–1.34), EF = 21.7. According to the incidence of bronchial asthma and asthmatic status, two risk groups can be distinguished: 0–4 years (RR = 1.84; EF = 45.6) and 10–14 years (RR = 1.95; EF = 48.1).

Limitation. Uncertainties in the results are related to the specifics of using medical documentation reporting forms and insufficient epidemiological knowledge about the relationship between morbidity and air pollution.

Conclusion. To assess the effectiveness of the program, it is advisable to analyze the trend in airborne pollutant levels, taking into account seasonal changes.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a biomedical ethics committee opinion or other documents.

Contributions:
Rukavishnikov V.S., Lakhman O.L. – study concept and design, editing;
Efimova N.V. – study design, data collection, writing, editing;
Mylnikova I.V. – statistical data processing, writing;
Bobkova E.V. – data collection, statistical data processing, writing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: October 29, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Water pollution with oil products poses a serious threat to human health. When oil and its derivatives enter water bodies, the natural ecosystem is disrupted, rendering the water unsuitable for drinking and household use. Ensuring biological safety is essential due to the ongoing adverse impact of pollution of aquatic components by various chemical factors on the formation of the environment’s microbiome and public health.

The aim of this study was to investigate the viability of the aquatic microbiome under conditions of increased oil product loads on water bodies.

Materials and methods. The state of microbial communities in the water of water bodies was studied under experimental conditions with the addition of petroleum products to river water: unleaded AI-95 gasoline and M-100 fuel oil. Gasoline was added to twenty eight experimental model reservoirs – at the level of MPC (0.1 mg/dm³), 10 MPC, 100 MPC, 1000 MPC and a suspension of potentially pathogenic test microorganisms Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella typhimurium. Fuel oil was applied to 16 model ponds, creating a 1 cm thick film or suspension of droplets in the water column and suspension of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype enteritidis. The infectious microorganisms for model reservoirs was 10² CFU/dm³, 10³ CFU/dm³, 10⁴ CFU/dm³. The experiment to study the effect of gasoline on sanitary-indicative and pathogenic microorganisms lasted 14 days, fuel oil – 30 days.

Results. Concentrations of petroleum products up to 10 MPC inhibited the growth of total microbial counts and the sanitary indicator microorganisms E. coli and E. faecalis. Maintaining an associative link with pathogenic microorganisms for up to 12 days of exposure when gasoline spilled into water bodies and up to 20–31 day when fuel oil spilled droplets. Gasoline concentrations of 100× and 1000× MPC, as well as a fuel oil spill in water as a film, resulted in 100% mortality of E. coli and E. faecalis after 6 days of exposure. Elevated concentrations of petroleum products in water bodies resulted in a significant increase in the hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa with prolonged contact time.

Limitations. The obtained experimental data will be confirmed by in-kind studies of water in reservoirs.

Conclusion. When significant concentrations of petroleum products enter a water body during emergency situations or the discharge of insufficiently treated wastewater from oil refineries, it is advisable to monitor the safety of water bodies using the sanitary indicator microorganisms E. coli and E. faecalis. In case of long-term release of high concentrations of petroleum products into water bodies, water safety monitoring should be carried out for the formation of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Compliance with ethical standards. This study does not require the conclusion of a biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution:
Trukhina G.M. – concept and design of the study, analysis of obtained data, writing text, editing;
Borisova N.A. – concept and design of the study, data collection and analysis, writing text;
Sinitsyna O.O. – writing text, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was conducted as part of the state program “Ensuring Chemical and Biological Safety of the Russian Federation for 2021–2024.

Received: November 21, 2025 / Revised: December 15, 2025 / Accepted: December 19, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Provision of sanitary-epidemiological welfare for the country population largely depends on control for non-communicable diseases; among them, a substantial contribution belongs to arterial hypertension (AH) due to both its high prevalence and considerable proportion in the morbidity and mortality structure. Apart from the well-known risk factors, considerable influence on formation of AH can be exerted by changes in atmospheric pressure. It is advisable to identify key pathogenetic mechanisms of formation of AH upon changes in atmospheric pressure and indicators that describe them.This review covers materials presented in Russian and foreign publications, which are indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, CyberLeninka, and Elibrary.ru in 2010-2025 and focus on effects produced by atmospheric pressure on a rise in blood pressure (fifty five reports). The accomplished review has allowed establishing blood pressure to grow upon atmospheric pressure differences due to activation of the sympathoadrenal system (SAS) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) with a subsequent growth in cardiac output and heart rate (HR). When atmospheric pressure goes down, a decline in the vascular tone and partial oxygen density (ρO₂) are the initial segments; when it grows, arterial walls swell and spastic vasoconstriction occurs. Indicators for further profound analysis may include heart rate, cardiac output, blood pressure, biochemical indicators that describe SAS and RAAS activation, functional indicators that describe the state of the autonomic nervous system, ultrasound indicators to describe morphofunctional state of the heart and vessels, as well as hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂) under declining atmospheric pressure. Our results can be used in hygienic descriptions of effects produced by changes in atmospheric pressure on formation of AH within social and hygienic monitoring as well as for implementing branch activity plans with their focus on adaption to climate change within providing sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the country population.

Contributions:
Khasanova А.А. – study concept and design, collection and analysis of literature data, writing, and editing;
Zaitseva N.V., Shur P.Z. – research design, editing;
Ustinova О.Yu. – collecting and analyzing literature data, and writing text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: September 22, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Death is inseparable from the functioning of the biosphere and demonstrates its inherent connection to the presence of humanity on Earth. According to data from the end of 2024, with a total global population of 8.156 billion people, the average daily number of recorded deaths is 170,463, which amounts to 7,103 deaths per hour. An analysis of urbanized areas, which are home to 4.42 billion people, revealed a direct correlation between urban development and the management of burial sites. A historical retrospective shows that urban agglomerations, which have existed for millennia, have traditionally served as sites for interment. Currently, the territories of former burial grounds are used mainly as permanent burial zones, converted into park areas or built-up areas with green spaces. A study of the soil cover in the aforementioned territories revealed specific characteristics due to their original purpose and subsequent land-use transformations. All soils at burial sites are classified as necrosols and are characterized by the following features: turbation of the soil profile, enrichment of deeper soil horizons with phosphorus and carbon, deep mixing of the soil, and the presence of various artifacts and burial remains. In modern soil classification, there is no place for those soils that, after being used for burials, are utilized within built-up areas; they can only be characterized as “technogenic” or “other soils” without indicating the presence of former graves.

This article provides a review of foreign and Russian literature devoted to the study of cemetery soils, aiming to classify them according to their degree of impact on the environment and public health. The study did not include soils used for burial sites after the cremation of the bodies of the deceased in a crematorium or for burial sites in family vaults.

Contribution:
Ushakova O.V. – research concept and design, writing, editing;
Rakhmanin Yu.A. – research concept, editing;
Evseeva I.S. – research concept and design, collection of material and data processing, writing, editing;
Ibragimova S.Sh. – writing, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was carried out as part of the State assignment.

Received: November 13, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. The formation of a healthy lifestyle is one of the priorities of the state’s policy in the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases, including arterial hypertension (AH), among the able-bodied population.

The aim of the study was to assess adherence to a healthy lifestyle (HLS) in the prevention of AH in workers of harmful industries.

Materials and methods. Individual preventive counseling was conducted, aimed at increasing adherence to healthy lifestyle and correcting risk factors, among one hundred thirty six AH workers of harmful industries. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle according to the “Healthy Lifestyle Profile” questionnaire and blood pressure (BP) indices were assessed at the initial consultation and after 3 years of the preventive program.

Results. 3 years after the start of the program, the proportion of employees who followed the recommendations on healthy lifestyle increased by 15–20% in the category of “good” adherence to healthy lifestyle and 5–7% in the category of “high” adherence to healthy lifestyle. There was an increase in scores on all scales characterizing the main components of healthy lifestyle: “Responsibility for health”, “Physical activity”, “Nutrition”, “Stress management”, “Inner growth”, "Interpersonal relationships”. The target BP levels (less than 135/85 mmHg) were achieved in 58% of the surveyed. The number of employees with a normal daily BP rhythm (“dippers”) increased from 45% to 61%. A significant effect of the components of healthy lifestyle (“Nutrition”, “Physical activity”, “Stress management”) on BP levels (r=0.57–0.61) was revealed.

Limitations. The assessment of adherence to a healthy lifestyle is limited by the number of surveyed workers of harmful industries exposed to noise and vibration, and the duration of observation.

Conclusion. The questionnaire based on the “Healthy Lifestyle profile” questionnaire can be used as a criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of hypertension prevention at the individual and group levels.

Compliance with ethical standards. The research program was approved by the Committee on Biomedical Ethics of the Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman (Protocol No. 16 of February 18, 2021). All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution: All co-authors made an equal contribution to the research and preparation of the article for publication.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: November 21, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Effects produced by occupational exposures on health of workers employed at the chemical productions have not been given sufficient attention.

The aim of this study was to establish and perform hygienic assessment of specific development of occupational and somatic diseases in workers employed at ammonia / carbamide production.

Materials and methods. We examined two hundred forty four workers employed at an ammonia/carbamide producing enterprise; the observation group was made of 165 production workers (aged 42.2±1.6 years; work records equaled 11.6±1.5 years) and the reference group included 79 administrative workers (42.9±2.8 years and 10.5±1.6 years accordingly, р=0.32–0.58). The groups were divided by age, work records, and occupations (р=0.13–0.97). Working conditions were assessed using sanitary-hygienic, chemical-analytical, and instrumental methods; workers’ health was assessed relying on the results obtained by medical-social surveys, general clinical, functional, instrumental, and laboratory tests.

Results. Adverse working conditions at the analyzed production are determined by exposure to noise level beyond their safe limits; ammonia, nitrogen and carbon oxides, aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbamide dust in workplace air; work intensity. Working conditions at administrative workplaces belong to the hazard category 1–2 (permissible). Diseases of the ear are a priority occupational pathology; priority somatic diseases include those of the endocrine, respiratory, and cardiovascular system. Main production workers face almost tenfold risk of diseases against administrative staff. Morbidity among auxiliary production personnel includes the same occupational and somatic diseases; however, their likelihood is twofold lower. Prevalence of priority pathologies is almost two times higher among main production workers aged younger than 45 years among their peers involved in auxiliary operations; the difference reaches 2.6 times in the older age group.

Limitations. The study results can be extrapolated only on workers employed in similar working conditions at ammonia/carbamide productions.

Conclusion. Longer work records have an apparent adverse effect on prevalence of occupational and work-related diseases in workers employed at main ammonia/carbamide production since they increase likelihood of such pathologies by up to 20 times when reaching 10 years and by up to 13 times when exceeding 10 years.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (the meeting report No.4 dated January 10, 2024) and accomplished in full conformity with the conventional research principles stated in the WMA Declaration of Helsinki (2013 edition). All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contributions:
Ustinova О.Yu. – study design and writing the text;
Kostarev V.G., Nurislamova Т.V. – study design, data collection;
Vorobyeva А.А., Nosov А.Е. – writing the text, statistical data analysis;
Babina S.V. – statistical data analysis;
Ponomarev М.D. – data collection;
Ponomarev А.L. – data collection and statistical analysis.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: September 23, 2025 / Revised: November 7, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Fatigue and occupational injuries are closely related to the influence of harmful and dangerous production factors, which can be identified through a questionnaire survey and the development of preventive measures based on employee opinions.

The purpose of the study. To assess the functional state in individuals working under the influence of harmful and dangerous production factors based on remote questionnaire data, and to propose measures to prevent fatigue and occupational injuries.

Materials and methods. The results of a questionnaire survey of thirty nine eight hundred seventy eight employees in 19 types of economic activity (104 occupational groups) were analyzed. The questionnaire included 39 questions divided into four research blocks: age, work experience, and occupational characteristics; risk factors related to physical and emotional stress; signs of fatigue, existing health problems, and information about injuries; assessment of the current system for preventing fatigue and injuries, and suggestions for improving it. The average values were calculated based on quantitative and categorical indicators, and the significance of the differences between the groups was assessed using the Fisher test.

Results. A questionnaire survey showed a change in the functional state in employees in response to the influence of harmful and dangerous production factors, especially those over the age of 45 years. The change in the funcional state (fatigue and stress) under the influence of physical and emotional stress was recognized by the respondents as the main cause of injury (about 40% in both fields) and was considered more significant than technical and managing causes. More than half of the respondents in the production sector and a significant portion in the non-production sector considered the existing measures for preventing fatigue and injury to be insufficiently effective.

Limitations. The results are valid for this sample, but given the large number of respondents, they may be applicable to the general cohort of employees. It should also be noted that the respondents’ responses are subjective.

Conclusion. Recommendations have been developed to reduce fatigue and injuries, taking into account the specific features of the production and non-production sectors.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Tovstiy M.A. – research concept and design, data collection, and editing;
Mazhkenov S.A. – research concept and design, questionnaire development, data collection, writing the text;
Zibarev E.V. – research concept and design, methodology of the study, questionnaire development, and editing;
Kravchenko O.K., Nikonova S.M. – data processing, questionnaire development, writing the text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study was carried out as part of a government assignment.

Received: October 22, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Currently, the metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence among the adult population worldwide is about 25%, or more than a billion people. Among individuals in occupations with hazardous vibrations, MS occurs in 34.6% of cases. The most common diagnostic criteria are dyslipidemia, with hypercholesterolemia recorded in 52% of patients with vibration disease (VD). However, data on the occupational risk of these disorders are lacking.

Materials and Methods. A total of 241 workers in vibration-prone occupations with a diagnosis of VD was examined. All workers were assessed for the presence of MS components according to diagnostic criteria.

Results. In patients with MS and VD caused by exposure to local vibration, triglyceride (TG) levels as a diagnostic component of MS are higher than in patients with VD caused by combined exposure to local and general vibration. A high degree of occupational causation of MS was established (RR=2.1 (1.6–3.1), EF=52.4%), disturbances in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (RR=3.1 (1.3–7.6), EF=67%); and close to average degree of occupational causation – high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (RR=1.4 (0.96–2.12), EF=29%).

Limitations. The cross-sectional design included male subjects aged 40 to 60 years with vibration syndrome from exposure to local or combined vibration.

Conclusion. A high degree of occupational risk was established for MS, as well as low HDL-C levels, and a near-moderate degree of occupational risk for high LDL-C concentrations.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was conducted in compliance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration (last revised) and Order No. 200n of Russian Federation Health Ministry the dated April 1, 2016. Conclusion of the local ethical committee of the East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research No. 2 dated December 21, 2023. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Kudaeva I.V. – the concept and design of the study, editing, statistical processing, writing text;
Chistova N.P. – collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no funding and was performed within the framework of the funds allocated for exploratory scientific research of East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research.

Received: November 11, 2025 / Revised: November 14, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026

Introduction. Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OCOPD) is a serious cause of disability. The SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused a new problem: a combination of OCOPD and postcovid syndrome. The task of an occupational pathologist is to identify markers of disorders in such patients and develop personalized methods of treatment and rehabilitation.

Material and methods. The clinical and functional parameters in ninety men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of occupational and non-occupational origin were analyzed: 30 OCOPD men with COVID-19, 30 OCOPD men without COVID-19, and 30 men with non-occupational COPD and COVID-19. Dyspnea (Borg scales, mMRC, CAT), spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FVC/FEV1) and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed. The three groups were compared using the Kraskel–Wallis test and the Mann–Whitney method in a pairwise comparison.

Results. The CAT scores in group 1 are higher than in groups 2 and 3 (p<0.017). The degree of dyspnea on the mMRC scale in group 1 was significantly higher (p=0.01). On the Borg scale, scores in group 1 before and after exercise were higher than in group 3 (p<0.001) and group 2 after exercise (p=0.006). The FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC spirometry indices in group 1 are worse than in group 2 and 3 (p<0.001 and p=0.001; p=0.016 and p=0.007, respectively). The physical and mental components of the SF-36 quality of life in group 1 are lower than in group 2 (p=0.014 and p=0.003).

Limitations. There are quantitative limitations due to the gender of the surveyed and the design of the study.

Conclusion. A study of the clinical and functional parameters in patients with occupational and non-occupational COPD has shown that those who have suffered from COVID-19 have more pronounced symptoms: cough, sputum, shortness of breath, fatigue, sleep and breathing disorders, decreased physical activity. They also score higher on the Borg scale, which indicates to a lower stress tolerance.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the East Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research (Minutes of meeting No. 2 dated 02/21/2023), conducted in accordance with the generally accepted scientific principles of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013). All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Maraev M.D. – research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing and editing;
Katamanova E.V. – writing, editing;
Beygel E.A. – writing, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The research was carried out within the framework of exploratory scientific research “Development of approaches to the treatment and medical rehabilitation of patients with comorbid postcovid syndrome and military personnel injured in combat” (Reg. №. 123032000011–5).

Received: November 6, 2025 / Revised: November 18, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: January 15, 2026