The main mission of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO) is to conduct research for cancer prevention worldwide. The strategies of the IARC to reduce the occupational cancer burden include enhancing cancer surveillance, evaluating and classifying potential human carcinogens, and conducting epidemiological research to fill gaps in knowledge on occupationally related cancers. Beyond the IARC work, it is essential to systematically monitor occupational exposures in workplaces, in order to effectively protect workers. There are multiple sources of information about occupational exposures in workplaces, but they are often not used for hazard surveillance or for research. The Russian Federation has great potential to advance research and worker protection due to their strong tradition to monitor and record exposure concentrations in workplaces. Currently most evidence regarding occupational cancer burden comes from Western Europe and North America. Estimation of the burden of occupational cancer requires accurate data from local settings as extrapolating data from other settings may be misleading due to major differences in exposures, exposure pathways and baseline cancer risks. To fill this knowledge gap, it is important to conduct exposure surveillance and epidemiological studies on occupational cancer in the Russian Federation.

Introduction. In current conditions, the preservation of the health of the able-bodied population is of particular relevance and is an essential task of occupational health and ensuring social guarantees for employees.

The study aims to scientifically substantiate the main requirements of the standards aimed at preserving employees' health.

Materials and methods. The materials of harmful production factors, occupational morbidity at mining and coal industry enterprises, ferrous metallurgy, aluminum production plants are analyzed. We perform Cross-sectional epidemiological studies to assess the risk of developing chronic general somatic diseases.

Results. We present the justification of the platform of standards based on the risk assessment of violation of worker's health in the extraction and processing of ore and coal minerals. The share of jobs with harmful working conditions at these enterprises ranges from 73 to 90%. We have the indicators of occupational morbidity and quantitative assessment of the occupational risk of developing chronic general somatic diseases.

Conclusions. We give a comprehensive assessment of the current state of working conditions, the levels of occupational morbidity, the prevalence of production-related diseases in workers associated with the impact of production factors at enterprises of the leading sectors of the economy. It served as a justification for developing a platform of standards that include measures to reduce the risk of employee health disorders.

Introduction. There are data on the effects of dust on the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. The main measures for preventing diseases of the circulatory system aimed to identify and eliminate risk factors. However, the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease among coal mine workers with anthracosilicosis has not been sufficiently studied, determining the study's relevance.

The study aimed to learn the frequency of risk factors for coronary heart disease in coal industry workers with anthracosilicosis.

Materials and methods. We examined 269 miners working in conditions of dustiness exceeding the maximum permissible concentration by ten or more times: 139 miners with a previously established diagnosis of anthracosilicosis and 130 miners of the control group without dust pathology of the lungs. All of them underwent a comprehensive clinical, instrumental, and laboratory examination of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems to detect anthracosilicosis and coronary heart disease, as well as to assess its risk factors.

Results. In miners with anthracosilicosis, coronary heart disease was 3.5 times more common (30.94%) than in the control group (8.46%). We have identified a high incidence of coronary heart disease in the age group of 45 and more years and with the experience of working in dust conditions of 20 and more years. In miners with anthracosilicosis combined with coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension was 1.6 times more common (58.14%) than without concomitant coronary heart disease — 35.42%. Miners with a combination of anthracosilicosis and coronary heart disease were three times more likely (20.93%) than those without coronary heart disease (6.25%) to have a metabolic syndrome. According to the Tanner index, significant risk factors for coronary heart disease were the presence of an andromorphic constitutional-morphological type and the formation of a complication of anthracosilicosis — respiratory failure. The evaluation of biochemical blood tests showed that the most significant markers of coronary heart disease risk were hyperhomocysteinemia, increased levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and soluble fibrin-monomer complexes.

Conclusions. We found that the most significant risk of developing coronary heart disease in miners is 45 years and older.  

There are also other risk factors: work experience in harmful working conditions of 20 years or more; the presence of arterial hypertension; metabolic syndrome; andromorphic constitutional-morphological type according to the Tanner index. Risk factors are respiratory failure, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, increased soluble fibrin-monomer complexes, and C — reactive protein. It is necessary to consider all risks in developing programs of medical and preventive measures for employees of the coal industry.

Ethics. The examination of patients was under the ethical standards of the Bioethical Committee of the Research Institute of the CPGPP, developed by the Helsinki Declaration of the World Association "Ethical Principles of Conducting Scientific Medical Research with Human Participation" as amended in 2013. Also, the "Rules of Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation," approved by Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 266 of 19.06.2003. All the persons surveyed gave informed consent to participate in the study.

Introduction. The wide prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and their close connection with obesity, especially abdominal, makes the question of the relationship of these disorders with the respiratory system highly relevant to the coal industry. Their working conditions are closely related to the harmful effects on production factors.

The study aimed to study the main cardiorespiratory parameters in coal industry workers with abdominal obesity.

Materials and methods. We explored 369 men, including 225 employees of coal mines and 114 workers of open-pit coal mining enterprises in the South of Kuzbass, aged from 40 to 55 years (the average age of miners — 46.2±0.36 years, workers of open-pit mines — 46.7±0.36 years, p=0.344). Scientists conducted a study of external respiration function on an analyzer of the pneumotachometric type "Spiro-Spectrum." We used the ultrasound system "Vivid E9", manufactured by General Electric, to define echocardiographic parameters.

Results. The percentage of abdominal obesity among the coal mining industry employees in the south of Kuzbass was relatively high (more than 50%). At the same time, we detected arterial hypertension much more often.

Scientists have found that the average values of the lungs' vital capacity and the volume of forced exhalation for the first second have decreased in both groups in the presence of abdominal obesity. Moreover, we found a pronounced deviation among the miners.

Researchers associate the values of the leading echocardiographic indicators with the presence of visceral obesity. 

We identified high values of systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery and characteristic signs of diastolic myocardial dysfunction in the examined patients. The researchers also identified the most pronounced indices of right and left atrial volumes in miners.

In underground workers, the data of correlation analysis indirectly indicate that an increase in waist circumference is not the main factor affecting the reduction in their left ventricular longitudinal deformation.

But we can't say this for onshore coal mining workers, who have a moderate connection.

Conclusions. Abdominal obesity harms the respiratory system of coal industry workers, more pronounced in miners. Visceral obesity is significantly associated with dysfunction of the right and left parts of the heart, both in miners and in coal mine workers.

Ethics. The examination of patients was by the ethical standards of the Bioethical Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases under the Helsinki Declaration of the World Association "Ethical Principles of Conducting Scientific Medical Research with Human Participation." Amended in 2013 and the "Rules of Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation." (Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 266 of 19.06.2003.) All the surveyed persons signed informed consent to participate in the study.

Introduction. The systemic violation of the body's homeostasis under the conditions of the negative impact of production factors scientists determine by the mismatch of neurohumoral mechanisms of regulation of metabolic processes. There are endocrinopathies. They occur with disorganization of the metabolism and violation of the thyroid gland's functional activity with disorganization of the metabolism, infringement of the thyroid gland's available action.

The study aimed to learn the nature of endocrine dysfunction, histological changes of the thyroid gland associated with the dynamics of chronic fluoride intoxication of the body.

Materials and methods. We analyzed the state of bone tissue and assessed the degree of articular syndrome during the large-scale structural reconstruction of the skeleton in aluminum production workers.

The scientists examined the workers using double photon densitometry.

The researchers studied the metabolic parameters based on a range of biochemical and instrumental methods.

The experiment involved sexually mature male white laboratory rats with a bodyweight of up to 300 grams. We analyzed hormonal status disorders with an assessment of the degree of morphological changes in the thyroid gland.

Results. The researchers analyzed the severity of disorders of individual endocrine mechanisms of homeostasis regulation and thyroid morph structure in hyperfluorosis. We treat fluorosis as a polyfunctional pathology. A high proportion of endocrinopathies is a clinical syndrome.

It increases the pathological course of chronic fluoride intoxication in workers. We confirm the study with experimental data on metabolic disorders with a persistent toxic effect.

We revealed hyperfunction of the thyroid gland against the background of a decrease in glucocorticoid activity, stable electrolyte, and mineral shifts. The researchers conducted an experiment on the late stages of fluoride intoxication.

Conclusions. Clinical studies of individuals with chronic fluoride intoxication and concomitant endocrinopathy revealed a significant increase in the number of workers with abdominal obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, mineral metabolism disorders.

Also, with deforming osteoarthritis of the joints, osteoalgia against the background of thyroid insufficiency.  Experimental data confirm this. The fluorine accumulation in the body causes multidirectional disorders of the hormonal mechanisms of regulation of metabolic processes, alternation of hypo- and hyperfunction changes in the thyroid gland associated with fluoride duration intoxication.

Ethics. We conducted a comprehensive study of aluminum workers in the central and auxiliary professions under the standards of the Bioethical Committee of the Research Institute of Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases and the principles of conducting scientific and medical research with human participation (2013) in the hospital of the clinic of the Research Institute of Complex Problems of Hygiene with the informed consent of patients.

Introduction. The fundamental mechanisms of the body's pathological reaction to coal and dust exposure are hypoxia, excessive activation of free radical processes, structural and metabolic disorders in various organs. Organ-specific molecular defense mechanisms begin to function in the form of changes in the level of proteins with antihypoxic (HIF-3a), chaperone (HSP72), and antioxidant functions (HOx-1 — heme-oxygenase, Prx-1 — peroxiredoxin) under damaging effects.

Its high level contributes to the restoration of cells' functional state or indicates significant damage in tissues. Hypoxia and free radical processes are known to lead to severe brain damage and behavioral disorders. To date, little is known about the expression of protective proteins and morphological changes in the brain under prolonged exposure to coal-rock dust on the body.

The study aimed to learn the level of intracellular protective proteins HIF-3a, HSP72, HOx-1, Prx-1, and morphological changes in the brain in the dynamics of long-term dust exposure.

Materials and methods. Sixty white male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g of the same age took part in the experiment. Dust exposure was modeled by way of dynamic inhalation priming of rats with coal-rock dust (coal of a gas-fat brand) in an intermittent mode for 12 weeks. We perform morphological studies of the brain after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of dust exposure. The cytosolic fraction of brain tissue researchers determined the expression level of HIF-3a, HSP72, HOx-1, and Prx-1 by Western blot analysis. We selected the activity of free radical processes in the brain tissue.

Results. Long-term exposure to coal-rock dust on the body at the morphological level in the brain revealed changes that indicate the development of hypoxia and activation of free radical processes: microvascular disorders, pericellular edema, severe dystrophic damage to neurons, focal loss of neurons, activation of glial cells. Activation of the protective proteins HIF-3a, HSP72, HOx-1, and Prx-1 in the early stages (1–3 weeks) of coal-dust exposure provided compensation for free radical processes in brain neurons. An increase in the duration of dust exposure of more than six weeks influences a low level of HSP72, but high HIF-3a and Prx-1, indicating an increase in hypoxic and free radical damage brain.

Conclusions. The results obtained to expand the understanding of the morphological and molecular mechanisms that occur in the brain tissue during prolonged dust exposure to the body are essential for developing methods for organ-specific pharmacological correction.

Ethics. We keep, fed and remove the animals from the experiment by the requirements of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation "On Approval of the Rules of Laboratory Practice" (No. 199n of 01.04.2016), as well as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 1996). The study was approved by the Bioethical Committee of the Research Institute of Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Protocol No. 2 of October 25, 2018).

Introduction. The preclinical study of the effect of chemical intoxication on the blood system's states is especially relevant for preventing and treating workers producing bromo-aromatic compounds with polytropic toxic effects m-bromaniline sulfate, in case of possible contact at the stages of its synthesis.

The aim of the study to research in an experiment the toxic effect of m-bromaniline sulfate on the state of the blood system.

Materials and methods. Sulfate m-bromaniline is an intermediate of the synthesis of the drug tramadol. Scientists study the toxic effect of sulfate m-bromaniline in experiments on rats. We reproduce single inhalation and subacute intragastric modes and methods of exposure. The researchers evaluated the impact of the substance on animals based on the results of peripheral blood tests. Namely: by the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, analysis of the white blood cell formula. According to the indicators of biochemical tests of blood serum, morphological data of the study of the liver, kidneys, heart, stomach. We took into account the readings of the critical parameters of the pancreas and thyroid glands.

Results. The results of examining animals subjected to acute inhalation intoxication and sub-acute intragastric exposure showed the same type of changes in the peripheral blood and experimental group's biochemical profile.

The intake of m-bromaniline sulfate leads to a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin against the background of increased reticulocytosis, leukocytosis. The number of eosinophils in the blood of animals exposed to poisoning decreased by almost one and a half times. We found a violation of the balance of hemoglobin fraction's content. Also reduced oxyhemoglobin, an increase in methemoglobin. Researchers discovered in the blood sulfohemoglobin in the absence of it in the control group's animals.

The animals' biochemical profile revealed increased blood catalase activity against the background of its decrease in red blood cells.

In the blood serum of rats primed with sulfate m-bromaniline we found an increase in bilirubin concentration. We noted an increase in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase while maintaining the same action of alanine aminotransferase.

The effect of sulfate m-bromaniline at the morphological level revealed vascular disorders in all internal organs and moderately pronounced fatty degeneration of the liver and kidneys. The spleen was hyperplastic; a large amount of brown iron-containing pigment was noted intra- and extracellularly in the red pulp.

Conclusions. Different receipt methods of sulfate m-bromaniline in the conditions of acute inhalation sub-acute intragastric experiments lead to some disorders. Violations have a hemotoxic character with a predominant effect on the state of the blood system.

An essential element of intoxication prevention can be the correct selection of the persons entering the work contact with toxicants. Individuals with manifesting or latent iron deficiency, various hemorrhagic syndrome types, and severe forms of autonomic dysfunction represent a health risk group if possible contact with sulfate m-bromaniline.

Ethics. We keep and remove the animals from the experiment by the requirements of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation "On Approval of the Rules of Laboratory Practice" (GLP) (No. 708-n of 23.08.2010) and the international rules "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" (Strasbourg, 1986).

Introduction. In the modern world, the introduction of digital technologies in healthcare is one of the priorities of development, which opens up a wide range of opportunities from screening and monitoring to various health disorders.

In 2020 we completed the work to evaluate the applied capabilities of contactless videoplethysmography based on the telemetric control system developed by us and patented using the DISITA software and hardware complex during pre-trip post-trip medical examinations in 19 drivers of passenger vehicles.

The study aims to explore the possibilities of the data of variational heart rate monitoring using reflected video plethysmography in assessing drivers' performance in their work.

We have identified the most sensitive and significant heart rate variability indicators that reflect the professional load's impact.

Materials and methods. We carried out during the usual pre-trip examination, video plethysmography of the skin of the face of the subjects in parallel in conditions of both natural daylight and typical artificial lighting of medical and diagnostic rooms, at a distance of the recording WEB camera of the DISITA software and hardware complex from the face of the subject within 40–70 cm. Researchers examined the methodological recommendations developed by the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health team and RT-Medicine JSC.

Results. We use videoplethysmography to evaluate variational heart rate monitoring as a method for assessing functional states during mass pre-trip (pre-shift) and post-trip (post-shift) medical examinations. In this case, the heart rate estimated by palpation was identical to the heart rate obtained by videoplethysmography. The most sensitive parameters characterizing the impact of professional load on drivers were changes in the indicators of variational heart rate monitoring: SDNN, RMSSD, CV, TR, HF, LF, and the waves of vasomotion regulation.

Conclusions. Videoplethysmography with an assessment of the data of variational heart rate monitoring can be used to predict the functional state (stability of the body) of drivers in the course of their professional activities.

Introduction. The Kemerovo region is the largest coal-producing region in Russia, and coal mining hurts the environment. The earth's developed mineral deposits are sources of pollution of atmospheric air, water, and soil. They increase the risk to public health. The implementation of measures for the reclamation of disturbed land is an urgent problem.

The study aims to assess the health of an industrial city from air pollution during the liquidation of mining operations, and reclamation works carried out at a coal mine.

Materials and methods. The scientists assessed the distribution and impact of atmospheric emissions at 40 plotted points based on a map of the city of Kisilevsk in the Kemerovo region. We calculated the maximum and average annual concentrations of pollutants and identified the risk of chronic intoxication and carcinogenic risk. Scientists obtained risk values with acceptable levels. The risk values were determined, taking into account the background concentrations of substances.

Results. The researchers revealed priority pollutants: inorganic dust, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon (soot), carbon monoxide. There is no excess of the maximum average annual concentrations during the liquidation and reclamation at the coal mine for all pollutants. The combined values of the risk of chronic intoxication and carcinogenic risk do not exceed the acceptable level. The total values of the risk of chronic intoxication, taking into account the background concentrations of pollutants, exceed the proper level at all points of exposure.

Conclusions. Activities for the elimination and reclamation of mine workings do not significantly impact the environment and the health of the population of the city of Kiselevsk.

Introduction. Heart rhythm disorders in locomotive drivers are a significant disease that increases the risk of sudden death and thromboembolic complications, including during professional duties. Conditions associated with cardiac arrhythmias in locomotive drivers can create a state for disastrous situations on the railway. Identification of risk factors for heart rhythm disorders and their prevention in locomotive drivers is an important task.

The study aimed to study the role of vitamin D in developing cardiac arrhythmias in locomotive drivers.

Materials and methods. We recruited the patients in the cardiology department's conditions, JSC "Russian Railways" in Moscow. The study included patients with detected cardiac arrhythmias. We did not have patients with a history of surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with organic myocardial diseases. Namely: ischemic heart disease, myocarditis, congenital and acquired heart defects, cardiomyopathy.

Also, scientists did not study patients with somatic disorders, decompensation of chronic diseases, and endocrine and urinary systems.

Results. The study revealed a widespread prevalence of low vitamin D levels among locomotive drivers with cardiac arrhythmias. The statistical analysis showed the effect of vitamin D deficiency on cardiac arrhythmias' development with a high risk of sudden death and thromboembolic complications. We revealed the negative impact of occupational stress on the development of cardiac arrhythmias in locomotive drivers. Scientists have found the relationship of vitamin D deficiency with the level of anxiety of drivers. A review of studies on the role of vitamin D deficiency in developing cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac arrhythmias, is presented. The results of the study are consistent with the data of the scientific literature. 

Conclusions. It is necessary to survey locomotive drivers to identify vitamin D deficiency with the subsequent correction to prevent cardiac arrhythmias.