Introduction. In 2021, the largest proportion of workers in the Russian Federation with class 3.1 and higher¹ was at coal mining enterprises (79.1%), in coal mines this figure reached 90.4%, which determines the high level of occupational morbidity of miners — more than 150–200 times higher than the average in Russia².

The study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the working conditions of employees of operating coal mines in Russia according to the data of the Federal State Statistics Service in comparison with the indicators of occupational morbidity (on the example of the Rostov region).

Materials and methods. The authors have carried out the analysis of the data of the FSIS SAWC from 2018 to 2022 for all 57 coal mines operating in Russia during this period in four federal districts (FD) with a total number of jobs (RM) — 17,158, employing 60,699 people. The objects of the study were employees of 12 professions. For an integral assessment of the degree of harmfulness of working conditions of miners, we have calculated the total score of the degree of harmfulness of working conditions. Scientists investigated the occupational morbidity of miners. The experts also compared the established indicators with the data on the FSIS SAWC on the example of enterprises of the Rostov region (with the calculation of Spearman correlation coefficients).

Results. Working conditions of 13% of miners belong to Class 3.1, 42% — to class 3.2, 35% — to class 3.3 and about 2% — to class 3.4. We have identified the most unfavorable conditions in the professions of tunnellers and longwall miner (721.9 and 717.1 points) — class 3.3–3.4; drivers of electric locomotives, drivers of hoisting installations, electricians, miners (hydraulic fracturing), explosives (500.3, 495.6, 444.3, 436.4 and 407.4 points) — class 3.2–3.3; among mining foremen, fasteners, stemmers, mechanics and lifting drivers (392.9, 333.3, 261.0, 256.8, 157.1 points), class — 3.2–3.1. The leading production factors are: the severity of labor (85.1%), noise (83.3%), aerosols of predominantly fibrogenic action (79.4%). Increased levels of local vibration, unfavorable microclimate and insufficient illumination are recorded at 30–40% of the RM. The authors found that only 2.4% of workplaces exceeded the maximum permissible level (MPL) for general vibration, and 0.3% — in terms of labor intensity. There is no data on infrasound, non-ionizing and ionizing radiation.

Limitations. The study is limited to data on working conditions and occupational morbidity of coal miners for the period 2018–2022. These limitations allow us to plan further research and expand our understanding of this problem.

Conclusion. The most unfavorable working conditions we have  registered in the Southern Federal District, followed by the Siberian Federal District, Northwestern Federal District, Far Eastern Federal District, which is primarily due to the technologies used and production conditions. Also, scientists have identified underestimation of the degree of harmfulness of working conditions by factors (severity and intensity of work, local vibration, light environment, microclimate), non-accounting of ionizing radiation. The structure of the leading production factors determines the modern structure of occupational morbidity of miners: radiculopathy (39.2%), respiratory diseases (36.7%), diseases from exposure to noise and local vibration (18.2%).

Ethics. The study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contribution:
Bukhtiyarov I.V. — concept and design of the study;
Zibarev E.V. — concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Vostrikova S.M. — data collection and processing, writing the text;
Kravchenko O.K. — data collection and processing, writing the text;
Pictushanskaya T.E. — data processing, writing the text;
Kuznetsova E.A. — data processing, writing the text;
Bessonova A.K. — data collection and processing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 19.04.2023 / Accepted: 28.04.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

¹  Official website of the Federal State Statistics Service [website]. https://rosstat.gov.ru/
²  State report. On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population in the Russian Federation in 2021. Rospotrebnadzor [website]. https://clck.ru/32nK6i

Introduction. The coal industry, being one of the leading sectors of the Russian economy, occupies a leading position in terms of the share of workers employed in harmful and dangerous working conditions (79.1% in 2021). The social significance of occupational pathology is due to large contingents exposed to harmful and(or) hazardous production factors and the complexity of solving issues of compensation for damage to workers' health. Unfavorable working conditions and overwork make a significant contribution to the formation of mortality rates in the workplace of workers engaged in coal mining, both due to occupational injuries and from general diseases. In this regard, of particular importance is the improvement of measures related to strengthening the health of coal industry workers, including measures to improve the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as measures to improve working conditions, social protection of employees of coal industry organizations, optimization of the management system and the creation of regulatory mechanisms in the field of coal mining and use.

The study аims to examine the health status of employees in the coal industry organizations located in the Kemerovo and Rostov regions.

Materials and methods. The authors  studied and analyzed the results of mandatory preliminary and periodic medical examinations, mandatory periodic (during work) medical examinations of workers engaged in work with dangerous and(or) harmful working conditions for the extraction (processing) of coal (oil shale), the results of psychiatric examination, information about the organization of post-shift rehabilitation, medical rehabilitation after provision of medical care according to the profile "Occupational pathology" of coal industry workers in 2022 in accordance with the regulatory legal acts of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

Results. According to the Center for Occupational Pathology of Treatment and Rehabilitation Center No. 2 (Shakhty, Rostov region), the number of employees of coal industry organizations subject to mandatory periodic medical examinations (PME) in 2022 amounted to 4,166 people, including women — 1,066. At the same time, the number of employees who have passed PME is 4,001 people (96.0%), including 867 women (81.3% of the total number of women and 21.7% of the number of people who have passed PME). According to the results of the PME, the number of persons who do not have medical contraindications to work amounted to 3,927 (98.1%), including 859 women (21.9% of the number of persons who do not have medical contraindications to work). The number of persons with temporary medical contraindications to work is 42 (1.05%), including women — four. The number of persons with permanent medical contraindications to work is 32 (0.79%), including women — four. According to the Kemerovo Regional Center for Occupational Pathology, the number of employees of coal industry organizations subject to PME in 2022 amounted to 43,145 people, including women — 7,288 (16.9%). At the same time, the number of employees who have passed PME is 39,830 people (92.3%), including women — 7,142 (98% of the total number of women and 17.9% of the number of people who have passed PME). According to the results of the PME, the number of persons who do not have medical contraindications to work amounted to 39,221 (98.5%), including 7,124 women (18.2% of the number of persons who do not have medical contraindications to work). The researchers have identified in 609 employees (1.5%), including 18 women (2.95% of the number of persons with temporary or permanent medical contraindications to work), temporary or permanent medical contraindications to work, namely: 89 employees (14.6%) — diseases of the cardiovascular system (I10–I149), in 219 workers (35.9%) — myopia (H52.1), in 142 workers (23.3%) — sensorineural hearing loss is bilateral (H90.3), in 94 workers (15.4%) — varicose veins of the lower extremities without ulcers or inflammation (I 83.9), in 65 employees (10.7%) — neoplasms (C00–D48). During mandatory periodic medical examinations in medical organizations of the Kemerovo region, we have diagnosed 7,325 cases of chronic somatic diseases that are not contraindications to the performance of work for the first time. In 57.5% of cases, experts have diagnosed symptoms, signs and deviations from the norm identified in clinical and laboratory studies (R00–R99), which may indicate the presence of early signs of occupational disease in workers and requires further attention. 

In 13.3% of cases, scientists have detected diseases of the endocrine system, eating disorders and metabolic disorders (E00–E90); in 11.7% — diseases of the circulatory system (I00–I99); in 5.5% — diseases of the genitourinary system (N00–N99); in 4.7% — diseases of the blood, hematopoietic organs and individual disorders, involving the immune mechanism (D50–D89), and others.

Limitations. A relatively short observation period.

Conclusion. On the example of the analysis of the work of the centers of occupational pathology of the Rostov and Kemerovo regions in terms of mandatory preliminary and periodic medical examinations, pre-shift and post-shift examinations, post-shift rehabilitation, medical rehabilitation after medical care in the profile of "Occupational Pathology", we can see a tendency to increase attention from the state, the management of coal mining companies about the health of employees of coal mining companies. A risk-oriented approach to employee health management, the development and implementation of corporate programs will reduce occupational risks and timely identify signs of the initial development of a possible occupational disease.

Ethics. In preparing the article, the authors were guided by the Ethical principles of medical research set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association of the last revision.

Contribution:
Pictushanskaya T.E. — data collection, analysis and interpretation, text writing;
Chasskikh E.V. — data collection, analysis and interpretation, text writing;
Zemlyakova S.S. — data collection, analysis and interpretation, text writing;
All authors — the concept and design of the study.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The author declares no conflict of interests.

Received: 22.05.2023 / Accepted: 05.06.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

Introduction. The issue of assessing the types of ionizing radiation characteristic of the lunar surface, the anti-radiation properties of various materials, and factors ensuring the anti-radiation safety of astronauts when placed on the lunar surface, taking into account the radiation safety standards for personnel, remains insufficiently studied.

The study aims to analyze the factors that determine the features of anti-radiation protection of astronauts in future lunar settlements.

Materials and methods. During the study, experts used analytical methods to generalize and systematize materials on the levels of dose load on astronauts at the stages of space flight and on the surface of the Moon. The researchers also used computational methods taking into account the anti-radiation properties of various materials, depending on the type of ionizing radiation, to develop approaches to the organization of anti-radiation protection of astronauts in conditions of short-term (up to 14 days) stay on the surface of the Moon.

Results. The researchers have carried out the analysis of the factors determining the radiation hazard for astronauts during their stay and work in lunar settlements. It is proved that when developing anti-radiation protection, it is necessary to use the housing of the lunar module (aluminum frame), lunar regolith and polyethylene. With the multilayer protection of the lunar module, it is necessary to take into account the attenuation coefficients of materials for various types of ionizing radiation, which will reduce the doses from both direct gamma radiation, protons and neutrons, and from scattered secondary radiation.

Conclusion. Various design options for the protection of the lunar station modules by the thickness of their constituent layers will provide anti-radiation protection of premises for various purposes, depending on the possible options for solar activity and the required levels for residential, working, emergency compartments.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with Ethical standards.

Contribution:
Ivanov I.V. — concept and design of the study, analysis and interpretation of data, preparation of the first version of the article;
Burmistrov V.I. — research concept, preparation of literature review, data acquisition and analysis; calculations, editorial office of the article.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 22.05.2023 / Accepted: 07.06.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

Introduction. Shift work, as the main stress factor, leads to the development of desynchronosis and other neurotic diseases. The production necessity with such a work schedule requires increased provision of mental health specialists.

The study aims to analyze the long-term dynamics of morbidity of employees of JSC "Russian Railways" with neurotic diseases associated with stress and somatoform disorders, depending on the intensity of work, availability of specialists responsible for psychoprophylactic work.

Materials and methods. Scientists investigated the working conditions and their influence on the functional state of employees of JSC "Russian Railways". The authors have carried out a retrospective analysis of information from the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System from 2012–2021 for JSC "Russian Railways" and the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation. The analysis of morbidity in mental pathology included nosological units assigned by ICD-10 to F40–F48.

Results. Work in the system of JSC "Russian Railways" is associated with the impact of a complex of unfavorable production factors, the key of which are psycho-emotional stress and shift work schedule — work in night shifts. Railway transport workers face various stressful factors on a daily basis, such as: desynchronosis due to shift work schedules, waiting for an emergency situation with a "system call", "broken" schedules, and related difficulties. The psychogenic factor, which is an etiological factor in the occurrence of neurotic disorders, constantly affects railway transport workers. Based on the analyzed data, it can be assumed that professionally conditioned factors of the working environment contribute to the formation of occupational stress and the formation of neurotic disorders among this category of workers. There is a connection with the growth of neurotic diseases and the annual trend of declining positions of psychologists and psychotherapists in the system of JSC "Russian Railways". There was a significant increase in the incidence of railway transport workers (p=0.043) and a decrease in specialists associated with the prevention of neuropsychiatric diseases for ten years (p=0.0001).

Limitations. Limitations are presented in the form of a small sample of employees of JSC "Russian Railways", insufficient depth of study of materials of foreign literature on the issue under study.

Conclusions. Neurotic disorders in persons who are under dispensary supervision in the system of JSC "Russian Railways" have a pronounced, statistically significant growth trend. There is a significant decrease in the number of medical specialists engaged in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychogenic diseases of workers. Based on the results of the study, we have revealed a link between the growth of neurotic diseases of railway transport workers and the annual decline trend of psychologists and psychotherapists in JSC "Russian Railways".

Ethics. This study was carried out in accordance with the rules of good clinical practice and the Helsinki Declaration and did not require the conclusion of the ethics committee.

Contribution:
Kostenko N.A. — research concept and design, data collection;
Bukhtiyarov I.V. — concept;
Zhovnerchuk E.V. — data collection;
Serikov V.V. — concept, the text writing, editing, data processing;
Khatin D.E. — editing, data processing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 19.01.2023 / Accepted: 24.04.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

The authors presented an analysis of modern views on the risks of industrial exposure to silica.

We touch upon the study of this problem abroad and in Russia. Researchers describe diseases associated with silica, both in traditional and new spheres of the economy.

In the article, scientists have considered the relationship of exposure to silicon dioxide with the formation of autoimmune, сhronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney pathology, cardiovascular system, etc. The article tells about modern views on the mechanisms of development of pulmonary and extrapulmonary diseases associated with exposure to silicon dioxide. The authors have presented modern approaches to the prevention of multisystem risks associated with silica.

Ethics. The study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contrubution:
Gorblyansky Yu.Yu. — the concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Shuyakova E.A. — writing the text;
Kontorovich E.P. — writing text, editing;
Ponamareva O.P. — writing of the text, design of the bibliography.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 08.05.2023 / Accepted: 18.05.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

The authors present a critical analysis of domestic SanPiNs, international recommendations (ICNIRP 2020, EU Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC, EU Directive 2013/35/EC, IEEE Std C95.1-2019) and national standards of the USA, England, Germany, France, China, Italy and Switzerland establishing hygienic regulations for radio frequency band EMF RF created by modern wireless communication and communications systems. It is shown that the RF EMF remote controls in the workplace and for the population, installed in the Russian Federation, are generally the most stringent compared to foreign recommendations, due to different methodological approaches to the hygienic rationing of the factor. In the Russian Federation, hygienic standards of EMF are developed on the basis of comprehensive hygienic, clinical-physiological, epidemiological and chronic experimental studies of bioeffects of non-thermal levels. Most foreign countries use international recommendations as national EMF standards, the basis for determining the threshold level of EMF is the thermal effect. In order to solve the issues of harmonization of hygienic standards of RF EMF, it is necessary to conduct in-depth scientific research to study the features of their biological action and impact on human health. It should be taken into account that the EMFs created by modern wireless communication systems, according to their multi-frequency characteristics, modulation modes, intensity and time parameters, the nature and methods of exposure to workers and the population, differ significantly from EMFs for which there are already existing hygienic standards.

Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contribution:
Pokhodzey L.V. — concept and design of research, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Paltsev Yu.P. — concept and design of research, data collection and processing, text writing, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 12.05.2023 / Accepted: 18.05.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

The issues of regulatory regulation of chemical and biological safety are important and relevant at the present stage of development of society.

They are related to the regulation of the use of chemical and biological substances in various fields of activity, such as industry, healthcare, agriculture and others.

Safety problems in the use of chemicals are becoming particularly relevant due to the increase in the volume and variety of chemical products, as well as the desire to reduce costs in its production. Chemicals can be dangerous to humans and the environment, so strict safety rules and regulations are required that regulate the storage, transportation, use and disposal of chemicals.

In turn, the issues of biological safety are becoming more and more relevant in the light of the development of biotechnologies and the use of biological substances in medicine and agriculture.

Regulation of the use of biological substances requires significant costs and the introduction of appropriate rules and regulations in various industries.

Thus, the issues of regulatory regulation of chemical and biological safety are relevant at the present stage and require constant attention from the state, manufacturers and the public as a whole.

Contribution:
Kholikov I.V. — the idea and concept of work, methodology and logic of research, analysis of normative legal acts and law enforcement practice on the problem of research, formulation of the main scientific results of research;
Shepel R.N. — development and substantiation of the main idea and concept of the work, development of a working and final hypothesis, selection of scientific literature;
Nikolaev I.I. — collection and analysis of scientific and regulatory sources, development and verification of research tools, formulation of conclusions.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 17.05.2023 / Accepted: 05.06.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023

Dynamic gravitational acceleration, known as a G-force, is an extreme factor for some professions. G-force negative impact realizes in central nervous system adequate functioning disturbance, resulting from oxygen starvation of tissues due to hemodynamic disorders. Known methods of G-force protection are aimed at increasing the maximum short-term G-force value, but not its total safe duration. In a number of studies, in order to increase the maximum value of the tolerated overload, we introduced laboratory animals into a state of artificial hypobiosis. The authors noted a decrease in mortality with an increase in the maximum value of the overload force. There were no data on manifestations of disorders of the central nervous system and recovery time, as well as changes in the safe duration of overload.

The study aims to assess the change in the safe G-force duration while artificial hypobiosis.

Scientists have used Syrian male hamsters weighing 95.5=0.5 g (M=m) in the study. We have divided the animals into groups — experimental and control.

To induce artificial hypobiosis, the researchers administered intramuscular injections of a suspension of α-methyldopa to animals of the experimental group. The control group received of 0.9% NaCl. We have carried out dynamic gravitational acceleration modeling using a centrifuge (r=0.62 m). The animals of both groups were conscious, with positive G-forces pointing downward (head-pelvis).

Within 10 seconds (s), the centrifuge rotation speed was increased till the chosen G-force value, G: 30 (angular velocity (ω)=21.79 rad/s), 40 (ω=25.16 rad/s) or 70 (ω=33.28 rad/s). G-force exposure set time, s: 20, 50, 80, 110 or 140. After a complete stop for 10 seconds, the general condition of the animals, injuries, hemorrhages, breathing, heart contractions were assessed. We monitored the surviving animals, assessed consciousness, determined coordination disorders in accordance with the following criteria: animal posture, productive movement, unstable gait, circular motion, reclining on the side. The time of restoration of coordination was also determined. The researchers have observed the animals during the following days to assess the daily survival rate. Necropsy was performed on all non-surviving animals.

Survival in the control group: 30 G: 80 s — 5/6; 40 G: 20 s — 6/6, 50 s — 6/6, 80 s — 3/6; 70 G: 20 s — 6/6, 50 s — 4/6, 80 s — 0/10. Survival in the experimental group: 70 G: 50 s — 6/6, 80 s — 10/10, 110 s — 10/10, 140 s — 2/6.

After acceleration of 70 G 50 s in animals of the experimental group, coordination disorders were weakly expressed, the coordination recovery time was 1.8±0.3 s, in animals of the control group, violations were assessed as significant, the recovery time was 4.5±0.3 s, which is 2.5 times (p<0.01) more.

On the following day, tremor persisted in 3 animals of the control group 40 G 80 c. In the remaining animals of all groups, no coordination disorders or peculiarities were detected.

We did not find any external injuries in any animal. Also, the scientists did not reveal a violation of the integrity of tissues according to the results of histological examination.

The authors have proved a 5.5-fold increase in the time of safe stay of animals in a state of artificial hypobiosis during dynamic overloads. There was a 2.5-fold decrease in the coordination recovery time in animals in a state of artificial hypobiosis.

Ethics. Studies involving laboratory animals were conducted in compliance with the necessary regulations (the Helsinki Declaration of 2000 on Humane Treatment of Animals and the "Rules for carrying out work using experimental animals" (Order of the Ministry of Health of the USSR No. 755 of 12.08.1977)). The Ethics Committee of Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health approved the protocol of the study.

Contribution:
Makarov A.F. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, writing the text;
Tkachuk Yu.V. — data collection and processing;
Shishkov A.Yu. — development and maintenance of the experimental stand;
Tonshin A.A. — editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

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

Received: 11.05.2023 / Accepted: 01.06.2023 / Published: 12.06.2023