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The parameters of vanadium determination by ICP-MS in whole blood are presented. Conditions for blood sample preparation to reduce measure errors and to determine vanadium at the reference concentration level were optimized. The accuracy of the results is confirmed by analysis of standard blood samples Seronorm L1, L2 and L3. Vanadium mean in whole blood for the group of children from the town of Chusovoy (n = 80) was 1.29 +/- 0.45 microg/L, and vanadium mean for grown-ups from the town of Chusovoy was 1.63 +/- 0.25 microg/L.

Are investigated infringements of indicators antioxigion organism protection at hectare-stroenterology diseases at the patients living in territory of Krasnodarsky edge with various levels of pollution of an inhabitancy by pesticides and heavy metals. The ecological concept of an aetiology form chronic inflammatory diseases of bodies of digestive system which assumes the mechanism of decrease in resistance of an organism, development nonspetial the processes conducting to chronisation and complication of a current of diseases is considered.

In the indigenous dwellers of coastal Chukotka, blood DDT levels are 1.5-2 times higher than those of continental areas, which is due to the higher global DDT pollution of a sea food chain. The blood levels of 4,4-DDE in the reproductive-age women of coastal Chukotka are comparable to those in other Russian Arctic regions, slightly lower than in Greenland, but essentially higher than in Canada, Alaska and Scandinavian countries. Blood DDE/DDT ratio in the coastal indigenous dwellers is almost twice higher than that in the inland inhabitants, which is indicative of the "older" exposure of coastal people to DDT. There was an about equal (70-75%) decrease in 4,4-DDE and 4,4-DDT levels with a practically invariable ratio (12-15) and a nearly equal elimination half-life period (about 3.5 years) in the mothers of coastal Chukotka 5 years after the first examination. The elevated 4,4-DDE/4,4-DDT ratios in the tissues of sea mammals generally correspond to higher isomer ratios in the blood of coastal natives and relatively low 4,4-DDE/4,4-DDT ratios in the venison, fowl, and fish predetermine lower ratios in the blood of inland inhabitants. The extremely low of DDE/DDT ratio (0.4) in the washouts and scrapes from the kitchen walls of dwellings are conclusively associated with the recent application of DDT as a household insecticide.

A review of the literature about the toxic effects of cadmium on the human body. We describe a patient with clinical and biochemical signs of an attack of acute porphyria imitated or severe lead poisoning. In the patient's blood was revealed a 3-fold, compared to the allowable rate, increase of cadmium in the normal lead content. We discuss the etiologic role of cadmium and the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of this pathological condition.

Environmental pollution by lead and its effects on human health continue to remain one of the most urgent problems of environmental hygiene. The paper gives the results of basic environmental and epidemiological studies conducted in different regions of the country, which prove elevated lead levels in the blood of examined children. The role of the influence of household factors on the elevation of blood lead levels in a child is shown, by using a town that has no large sources of lead emission as an example. Evidence is provided that a program should be elaborated to reduce a risk for human lead poisoning, which involves the introduction of methods for the biomonitoring and treatment of children having elevated blood lead levels.

A considerable reduction in the blood levels of stable organic pollutants (SOP) has been noted in the mothers of native ethnicities of costal Chukotka during a 5-year period, which may be accounted for by certain purification of food chains, altered diet with emphasis on delivered products, and long-term breastfeeding. The elevated level of SOP in children from birth to age 5 years is explained by long-term breastfeeding and the early consumption of local foods. The content of heavy metals (mercury and lead) in both maternal and children's blood has unchanged for 5 years. The children's infection morbidity has been quite high; at the same time no associations of the children's blood levels of toxic substances with the incidence of infectious diseases have been found. However, two children maximally exposed to SOP and metals have been observed to be rarely susceptible to diseases.

The paper presents the results of an investigation of the blood levels of mercury, lead, and cadmium in women of indigenous ethnic groups in the Far North. A certain correlation was found between the higher incidence of some poor pregnancy outcomes and fetal maldevelopment upon increased maternal exposure to heavy metals. The found correlations were statistically insignificant. There was no significant association of female exposure to heavy metals with menstrual irregularities and the sex ratio of neonates.

To evaluate ecologically allowable level of serum metals content in humans for making regional background normal level, the number of heavy metal ions should be determined in healthy human serum and simultaneously homeostasis parameters (hemolysis, biochemistry, immunologic) should be measured--clinically normal limits of these parameters are responsible for safe levels of of the heavy metals in human body. The suggested levels of metals in healthy human serum could serve as clinical MACs.

Chapayevsk has a 30-year history of producing organochlorines, leading to environmental dioxin pollution. As much as 3 kg of these substances are annually formed at the plant. The concentrations of dioxins in the ambient air were found to be 0.001 to 1.13 pg/m3, in 1-TEF dioxin equivalent or 0.00001-1.76 pg/m3, as calculated by using WHO-TEF for dioxin-like compounds, those in the urban drinking water were 0.1 to 20.83 pg/liter, in the soil near the plant, 141 ng TEQ/kg, by decreasing to 37 ng/kg in the downtown (2-7 km from the plant) and 4 ng/kg at a distance of 7-10 km from the plant, their levels in the vegetables and fruits were 0.002 to 10.6 pg/kg. The direct indicator of dioxin exposure is its detection in human breast milk and blood. Examination of the content of dioxins in the breast milk of Chapayevsk women versus those living in other towns and cities of Russia has shown considerably higher levels of dioxins, such as 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDD, 1,2,3,4,7,8-GCDD, and octa-dioxins. The mean content of dioxins in the breast milk (7 pooled samples from 40 individual trials) was 43.3 pgTEQ/fat. It is significantly higher than that detected in the populations of other Russian territories and other countries. The mean blood concentrations of dioxins in peoples living near the plant was 75.2 pgTEQ/fat, those were lower (24.5 pgTEQ/fat) in those living at 5-7 km of the plant.

Hygienic monitoring of lead, cadmium, and mercury as environmental pollutants should include the analysis of adverse human and environmental effects. The hygienic investigations of environmental pollution with gold-mining waste involved measurements of Hg in the water, soil, foodstuffs and human biological materials. Hg was found in the biological substrata of both industrial workers and the general population since they eat the products of animals and plants from the polluted area.

Chronic application of various copper concentrations on the skin decreases endogenous levels of iron, zinc, and copper in the serum. Single introduction of disperse copper positively correlates with the level of the oxidation products and Fe/Zn ratio in the liver. Single introduction of ionic and electron-neutral copper induces phased changes in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Positive correlation between activities of these enzymes points to efficient control of O2-radicals, dismutation products, and hydroperoxides level by the antioxidant enzymes in animal tissues treated with copper.

The author summarizes materials published in the issue, stresses importance of "Lead and Human Health" problem and necessitates further research on disclosing the lead influence on humans, with consideration of possible sources (air, waters, foods). Important matters also are improvement of hygienic regulation, biologic monitoring methods, environmental protection means; epidemiologic research covering large samples of workers, general population and children.