Osteopathy incidence in children and adolescents consuming drinking water with high content of natural strontium

Introduction. Excessive intake of heavy metals of natural origin with drinking water increases the risk of the formation of non-infectious diseases of systems and organs, depending on the tropism of the chemical compound. The aim is to study the incidence of disorders of bone density and structure (osteopathies) in children and adolescents who consume drinking water with an increased strontium content due to the geochemical characteristics of the territory. Materials and methods. The observation group consisted of 93 children living in a geochemical province with a stable strontium content of more than 2 MPC in the centralized drinking water supply system. The comparison group included 148 children living in an area where strontium concentration in drinking water does not exceed 1 MPC. The incidence evaluation was carried out according to the official data of statistical materials. The analysis of the average values of the concentration in the blood of strontium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity and the frequency of deviations from the norm of the studied parameters was carried out in the studied groups. The value of bone mineral density (Z-index) was determined according to the results of ultrasonic densitometry. Results. The level of long-term incidence of osteopathies for the period 2010-2019 in children and adolescents, the observation area was 6.59 ± 1.32 and 11.26 ± 2.07 ‰, respectively, which was 1.8 and 2.0 times higher than the level of the comparison territory (p = 0.0003-0.0004 ). The concentration of strontium in the blood of children living in the territory of the geochemical province exceeded 2.1 times the permissible reference (p <0.001) and 2.9 times the index of the comparison group (p = 0.0001). In ¾ children of the observation group, increased content of strontium in the blood was recorded, which was 5.2 times more often than the comparison area (p <0.001). In 57% of cases, the children of the observation group had a reduced level of ionized calcium in the blood (p = 0.0001). Low bone mineral density (Z-index) in the observation group occurred 2.3 times more often (17.2 versus 7.4%, p = 0.019). Significant dependences were established by lowering the level of ionized calcium and the value of the Z-index with increasing strontium content in the blood. Conclusion. In children living in geochemical provinces with an elevated strontium content, an increase in the incidence of osteopathy was noted, manifested by a reduced level of ionized calcium in the blood and low bone mineral density, which must be taken into account for the timely diagnosis and prevention of these conditions.

The Association between Hair Levels of Boron and Disease Incidence in the Population of a Boron Geochemical Province: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: A stable natural and technogenic boron geochemical province characterized by high environmental levels of boron has formed in the Aktobe Region of West Kazakhstan. The main local source of boron is sludge collectors of the boric acid production of the now destroyed chemical plant, built without impervious screens in the former old channels of the Ilek River, as well as in the river floodplain on alluvial quaternary sand and gravel deposits with high permeability. The objective of the study was to map hair levels of boron in residents of the Aktobe Region and to establish their relationship with disease incidence of the adult population. Materials and methods: The study included 340 permanent residents of the Aktobe Region, Republic of Kazakhstan, aged 18–60. Hair boron levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a Nexion 300D spectrometer (PerkinElmer Inc., USA) coupled with an ESI SC-2 DX4 sampler (Elemental Scientific Inc., USA). Mapping was performed using the QGIS cross-platform geographic information system (QGIS 3.18). Results: The map of the boron status of the study participants visually demonstrated the uneven distribution of hair boron concentrations in the inhabitants of the region. Hair levels of boron were significantly higher in men than in women (p = 0.000). We established a strong direct correlation between hair levels of boron and the incidence of congenital anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities (r = 0.886, p = 0.019), diseases of the genitourinary system (r = 0.829, p = 0.042), respiratory diseases (r = 0.943, p = 0.005), diseases of the digestive system (r = 0.878, p = 0.021), diseases of the blood, hematopoietic organs and the immune system (r = 0.880, p = 0.017). Conclusion: The mapping of hair levels of boron in the residents of the Aktobe Region of West Kazakhstan gave a visual demonstration of the uneven distribution of environmental pollution with boron in the study area. The revealed relationships between boron concentrations in hair tissue and disease incidence in the boric geochemical province confirm the assumption that the ecological features of the environment can affect the health of the population, which requires further in-depth research.

Trace element accumulation by soils and plants in the North Caucasian geochemical province

Long-term studies of the North Caucasian geochemical province allowed to establish regional abundances and calculate accumulation (dispersion) factors for chemical elements in rocks, soils, and plants. Certain natural regional patterns characterize the province. Associations of elements in high and low concentrations are often determined by the predominant composition of rocks: carbonate-terrigenous, terrigenous, and igneous. The study of the average contents of several chemical elements in the soils of the province showed that the association of accumulated elements includes metals with different migration characteristics. Thus, despite the rather close values of the ionic radii, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Li (judging by the ionic potential) are characterized by the formation of cations, while Mn, Mo, and Zr form complex ions. Such elements as Zn, Cu, and Pb are mainly accumulated on hydrosulfuric barriers, while Mo, Co, and Mn are stopped by oxygenous barriers. For Cu, Zn, Mo, and Co, biogenic accumulation plays a significant role, while for Pb and Ni it is practically absent. The absolute dispersion of the elements did not reach environmentally hazardous values, although it indicates a fairly intensive migration. In woody plants, Ba, Nb, Sc, Sr, and Zn are accumulated most intensively.

Negative impacts exerted by elevated arsenic concentrations in drinking water on biochemical parameters in children living in a specific geochemical province

Introduction. There are geochemical provinces in Russia where refuse heaps from mining enterprises increase a share of water samples from drinking water supply sources that don’t conform to hygienic standards as per their sanitary and chemical parameters, including arsenic concentrations.Material and methods. Our research objects were drinking water samples taken in a specific geochemical province where arsenic concentrations in drinking water were increased and the situation was made even worse by a mill tailing belonging to a closed mining enterprise located there (the test territory). Our reference territory was another geochemical province where arsenic wasn’t detected in drinking water in excess concentrations and where no mill tailings were belonging to similar enterprises. We also took data on risk assessment and examined biological materials taken from children (blood, urine, and hair).Results. Poor quality of drinking water as for arsenic contents caused by specific conditions in a geochemical province and aggravated by a mill tailing belonging to a closed mining enterprise led to unacceptable risks of non-carcinogenic effects (up to 1.83∙10-2) produced on the cardiovascular and hormonal system, as well as on the gastrointestinal tract. Children who had to drink low quality water had arsenic in their blood, urine, and hair in concentrations which were up to 264 times higher than those in blood, urine, and hair of children from the reference group. Children who had elevated arsenic concentrations in urine (starting from 0.295 µg/ml), blood (starting from 0.006 µg/ml), and hair (starting from 14.59 µg/ml) had their laboratory test indices deviating from those in children from the reference group. Thus, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine concentrations in blood serum were 1.2-1.3 times higher than in the reference group. A contribution made by arsenic into biochemical indices deviating from the physiological standards varied from 16% to 97%.Conclusions. Geochemical provinces with excess arsenic concentrations and mill tailings belonging to mining enterprises, either closed or operating, require special attention. It is necessary to accomplish medical and preventive activities aimed at minimizing health risks; take into account peculiarities related to how this element accumulates in a body and detected negative changes in biochemical parameters.

Landscape monitoring studies of the North Caucasian geochemical province

The data on the geochemical features of the bedrocks and soils of the province are given. Considerable attention is paid to regional abundances, as well as enrichment and dispersion factors of the chemical elements in landscapes. Using the example of the North Caucasus, it is shown that for such indicators as phytomass, geological, geomorphological, and geobotanical features, it is possible to make a preliminary outlining of regional structures corresponding to geochemical provinces. At the same time, a subsequent geochemical study of these structures remains mandatory. Upon determining certain geochemical associations, geochemical provinces can be basically distinguished; to a large extent, geochemical properties of these accumulated and scattered associations of elements contribute to the regional soil geochemistry. The results of long-term monitoring studies of the North Caucasus geochemical province have shown that the key features of the regional landscapes are due to the composition of bedrock and the presence of a large number of ore deposits and occurrences. The data obtained are the basis for assessing the state of the environment in conditions of increasing anthropogenic impact, and the established regional abundances can be used to assess the degree of pollution in agricultural, residential, and mining landscapes.

CONTENT OF MERCURY IN HAIR OF THE POPULATION OF THE GEOCHEMICAL PROVINCE

Introduction. A large number of gold and pyrite deposits are located on the territory of the Trans-Ural zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB). A characteristic concomitant component of ores of deposits of this kind is mercury. For the extraction of gold by amalgamation, metallic mercury was also used, which accumulated in the tailings and dumps of the runner gold recovery plants and came from them into the environment. Material and methods. To study the age and sex characteristics of the content of mercury in the hair of the inhabitants of the area. In the period from 2013 to 2018. an analytical transverse uncontrolled study was conducted, in which 279 clinically healthy residents of the Trans-Ural zone of the RB. A sampling of hair was carried out according to standard WHO methodology from the back of the head. Chemical-analytical studies of samples were carried out in the licensed laboratory of the Center for Biotic Medicine (Moscow) by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled argon plasma. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 6.0, with p <0.05, the differences were assessed as statistically significant. Results. The distribution of mercury in the hair of the examined individuals (102 men and 177 women) differed from the normal. The median (Me) content of mercury in the hair of the studied individuals was 0.072 µg / g for men and 0.122 µg / g for women, which does not exceed the indices for the Republic of Bashkortostan (0.58 and 0.47 µg / g for men and women, respectively). 1.4% of children, 2.3% of adolescents and 13.2% of adult residents had an increased risk of health. Conclusion. As a result of the study, elevated concentrations of mercury were found in the hair of a number of residents of the Trans-Ural zone of Bashkortostan, which requires greater control over the level of heavy metals in the air, soil, water, food and measures to reduce the risk to public health.

Heavy metals contents in higher aquatic plants of Belarusian reservoirs and rivers: spatial and species features

The spatial and species features of heavy metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Mo, Pb) contents in higher aquatic plants of reservoirs and rivers within Belarus have been analyzed on monitoring data. The group of submerged plants are characterized by high ash content; and they accumulate large amounts of Ti, Mn, Cu, Zn, Zr, Pb. There are statistically signi ficant differences between the plants in ecological groups of reservoirs and rivers in terms of Mn, Cu, Pb contents in the tissues (elements with a 100 % frequency). According to the spatial analysis the reservoirs of the northern geochemical province account for 71 % of the Mn anomalies and 80 % of the Cu anomalies, including the Braslav region – 46 % of the Mn anomalies and 59 % of Cu. Mn, Cu, Pb maximum concentrations are characteristics of submerged macrophytes such lakes as Snudy, Losvido, Maloye Beloye, Beloye (Luninets District), Beloe (Surmino), Svityaz. Among submerged macrophytes within lakes the abnormal accumulation of Mn has been noted for Charophyta (61 % of cases), Myriophyllum and Ceratophyllum, Cu – Charophyta, Isoetes and Lobelia dortmanna, Pb – Isoetes, Charophyta and Potamogeton. The macrophytes within rivers are characterized by the higher ash content and the average content of Mn, Cu and Pb in comparison with the lakes plants. Areas with identified Cu and Pb anomalies in the submerged plants are confined to the central geochemical province of Belarus (the Svisloch river accounts for 67 % of anomalous values of Cu and 33 % of Pb). Anomalous values of Cu have been fixed in the tissues of the Ceratophyllum and Potamogeton, Pb – mostly in Potamogeton. The cluster analysis has distinguished a group of plant species as a part of the following genera: Potamogeton, Myriophyllum, Elodea, Ceratophyllum and Sparganium. The group is characterized by elevated contents of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Pb and recommended as indicators of polluting water objects with heavy metals.