Elemental Status of the Adult Population of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO), located in the northern part of the Tyumen Region, is inhabited by both indigenous and non-indigenous population. On its territory, there is a pronounced imbalance of chemical elements in the water, soil, and plants, which directly affect the elemental status of the population. Taking into account the significant differences in the nature of nutrition and lifestyle of the indigenous and newcomer population in the North, it was of interest to study the concentration of chemical elements in their hair. 173 residents of YNAO were examined: 1) 92 newcomers – 40 (43.5 %) men and 52 (56.5 %) women, who had been living in YNAO for 10 years; 2) 81 aborigines – 33 (40.7 %) men and 48 (59.3 %) women. Their mean age was 38.3 ± 9.6 years. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Se, Cd, Pb, and Hg in the hair were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the Centre for Biotic Medicine (Moscow). Statistically significantly higher concentrations of Ca and Mg were established against the background of a lower content of Fe and Mn in newcomers compared to the indigenous population of YNAO (p < 0.001–0.011). At the same time, both groups had almost identical content of Cu and Zn. In addition, the indigenous population showed higher concentrations of Cr (p = 0.046), Se (p < 0.001), Hg (p = 0.019), and Cd (p = 0.030) and a slight excess of Pb in their hair. The established differences in the elemental status of newcomers and aboriginal inhabitants of YNAO are associated with the geochemical characteristics of this territory, dietary habits (lower consumption of simple carbohydrates by the aborigines and a large amount of fish in their diet), as well as widespread smoking among the indigenous people.