Within the national program “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation,” it is relevant to examine job specifics of IT specialists and their impact on performance status. Changes in this area necessitate reviewing approaches to disease prevention. For this purpose, we performed a retrospective analysis of publications on job specifics and working conditions of IT specialists to identify relevant issues and approaches to their prevention in the current context. The search was performed in PubMed (using MeSH terms) and eLIBRARY.RU. The search depth was 1972–2024. The MeSH terms and keywords were related to work with computers and information systems, as well as occupational risk factors and outcomes. In total, 3647 publications on relevant disorders and work system components were reviewed. A more detailed analysis included meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized controlled studies, cohort studies, case–control studies, and the most significant cross-sectional studies (a total of 86 publications). Working with visual display terminals increases the risk of subjective complaints of visual processing disorders, dry eye, and ocular hypertension, as well as musculoskeletal discomfort, dysautonomia, sleep disorders, and psychological disorders. There was no increased risk of reproductive disorders; however, there is evidence of the impact on fertility. Priority areas for prevention programs should include control of cognitive workload and occupational stress, improved workplace ergonomics and lighting conditions, prevention of visual processing disorders, and psychological support. The programs must take into consideration the changes in workflow.

Introduction. The main tasks of the occupational pathology service are early diagnosis of occupational diseases, prevention of their formation, and in case of development, slowing down the progression. Due to the timely start of rehabilitation measures, it is possible to preserve employees' ability to work, and the employer — the labor potential of qualified personnel. In modern enterprises, it is necessary to create programs to provide workers with medical care at the early stages of the formation of diseases, to prevent their progression, the development of complications and the preservation of professional ability to work. The study aims are the scientific substantiation of methodological approaches to optimizing rehabilitation and preventive programs for employees of "dust−hazardous" professions. Materials and methods. The scientists have examined 254 employees of KAMAZ PJSC: 164 employees of the Foundry and 90 employees of other divisions of the enterprise. The work uses a complex of hygienic, clinical and laboratory, instrumental, statistical research methods. Results. The authors have established the features of the a priori and a posteriori risk of the formation of occupational pathology of the respiratory organs in the departments of a large machine-building enterprise. There is specificity of the development of respiratory pathology depending on the exposure characteristics and characteristics of the physico-chemical properties of industrial aerosols in workers of a machine-building enterprise. The researchers have developed and scientifically substantiated a methodological approach to the application of a set of measures aimed at reducing risk and preventing occupational pathology of the respiratory system in employees of a machine-building enterprise, based on a personalized assessment of harmful factors of the production environment, a differentiated approach to correcting modifiable risk factors. Conclusions. The authors justified the use of various rehabilitation and preventive programs for interned employees of the enterprise who have a high risk of developing occupational pathology of the respiratory system, developed a differentiated approach to the use of various rehabilitation and preventive programs based on the analysis of the dynamics of clinical and functional indicators reflecting the course of respiratory pathology under the influence of industrial aerosols of various compositions (formation of obstructive-restrictive disorders, changes in exercise tolerance, the dynamics of morbidity with temporary disability).

Potential genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of carbon nanotubes (CNT), as well as the underlying mechanisms, remains a pressing topic. The study aimed to evaluate and compare the genotoxic effect and mechanisms of DNA damage under exposure to different types of CNT.Immortalized human cell lines of respiratory origin BEAS-2B, A549, MRC5-SV40 were exposed to three types of CNT: MWCNT Taunit-M, pristine and purified SWCNT TUBALLTM at concentrations in the range of 0.0006-200 mu g/ml. Data on the CNT content in the workplace air were used to calculate the lower concentration limit. The genotoxic potential of CNTs was investigated at non-cytotoxic concentrations using a DNA comet assay. We explored reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, direct genetic material damage, and expression of a profibrotic factor TGFB1 as mechanisms related to genotoxicity upon CNT exposure.An increase in the number of unstable DNA regions was observed at a subtoxic concentration of CNT (20 mu g/ ml), with no genotoxic effects at concentrations corresponding to industrial exposures being found. While the three test articles of CNTs exhibited comparable genotoxic potential, their mechanisms appeared to differ. MWCNTs were found to penetrate the nucleus of respiratory cells, potentially interacting directly with genetic material, as well as to enhance ROS production and TGFB1 gene expression. For A549 and MRC5-SV40, genotoxicity depended mainly on MWCNT concentration, while for BEAS-2B - on ROS production. Mechanisms of SWCNT genotoxicity were not so obvious. Oxidative stress and increased expression of profibrotic factors could not fully explain DNA damage under SWCNT exposure, and other mechanisms might be involved.

The concept of “3Rs” (refinement, reduction, and replacement) has become widespread in toxicological studies. 3D cell models are a further development of traditional 2D models. In the current study, 3D models of the human respiratory system consisting of BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells and MRC5-SV40 lung fibroblasts are developed. The results of studying the toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using advanced 3D models demonstrate the absence of proapoptotic and profibrogenic effects at concentrations corresponding to the reference exposure level. However, starting at a CNT concentration of 20 μg/mL, well above concentrations corresponding to the reference exposure level, signs of oxidative stress are detected in the cell models. 3D cell models can be recommended as a more objective screening method for assessing the toxicity of CNTs when moving from traditional in vitro experiments to in vivo studies.

Introduction. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a group of promising nanomaterials for industrial and biomedical applications. There has been shown influence of the physicochemical characteristics of CNTs on the toxic effects, including the ability to cause DNA damage and induce apoptosis. In this study, there was carried out a comparative assessment of pro-apoptotic effects under exposure to single-walled and multi-walled CNTs produced in Russia on human respiratory cells. Materials and methods. Human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B, alveolar epithelial cells A549, and lung fibroblasts MRC5-SV40 were exposed to pristine and purified TUBALLTM SWCNTs and Taunit-M MWCNTs. In cells exposed to 4 concentrations (100, 50, 0.03, 0.0006 μg/ml) of all types of CNTs for 72 hours, the level of mRNA of the P53, BAX and BCL2 genes, as well as the level of reactive oxygen species were assessed. Results. All types of CNTs initiated apoptosis in human respiratory epithelial cells BEAS-2B and A549, but not in MRC5-SV40 lung fibroblasts. BEAS-2B were more sensitive to the effects of MWCNTs, while A549 were more sensitive to pristine SWCNTs. Apoptosis was initiated at low concentrations, including those corresponding to industrial exposures. The mechanism of oxidative stress could act as a factor in triggering apoptosis in lung epithelial cells. Limitations. Relatively short (72 hours) cell incubation time and the use of 2D cell models that do not consider real cell interactions. Conclusion. There were revealed differences in the mechanisms of initiation of the internal pathway of apoptosis and sensitivity to different types of CNTs depending on the type of epithelial cells. Comparative analysis of the initiation of apoptosis by different types of CNTs has shown that there are differences in potential target cells and toxic mechanisms, which should be considered in further studies.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fine suspended particles in the atmospheric air on the formation and course of allergic and non-allergic phenotypes of the T2 endotype of bronchial asthma (BA) using the case-control study. Materials and methods. BA patients were selected in the course of seeking medical help. The groups were formed on the base of matching criteria (gender, age, body mass index, level of education), supplemented by the collection of information about potential cofounders. Based on the data on monitoring the content of fine suspended particles in the atmospheric air of Kazan, the average annual and maximum concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 fractions were determined in the residential areas. The group of “cases” included forty patients with an allergic phenotype and 42 patients with an eosinophilic non-allergic phenotype of bronchial asthma, the control group included forty eight people. Additionally, sampling of atmospheric air was carried out using an 8-stage impactor to assess the content of bacterial endotoxin, and elemental composition. Results. Higher levels of pollution with fine suspended particles were demonstrated in the areas of residence of BA patients, comparing to the control group. An increase in the average annual concentration of the PM2.5 by 10 µg/m3 increases the odds of the eosinophilic non-allergic BA phenotype in adults by 4.76 times. The odds of the allergic phenotype of bronchial asthma increases in the presence of bacterial endotoxin - 1.32 times per 0.01 EU/m3 of endotoxin in the 3.2-18 µm size fraction. A more severe course of the eosinophilic non-allergic BA phenotype was noted at higher average annual concentrations of the PM2.5. The control of allergic asthma depends on the bacterial contamination of the aerosol. Limitations of the study are related to the use of geospatial approach to assess personalized average annual and maximum annual concentrations. Conclusion. The role of fine suspended particles in the atmospheric air in the development of bronchial asthma in adults has been shown. Various mechanisms were established to be involved in the formation of the clinical picture of the eosinophilic non-allergic and allergic phenotypes of bronchial asthma.

The study involved 99 IT-workers who were divided into 4 subgroups depending on the content of the job: 3 groups of professional IT-workers system administrators, software developers, product supporters (62 people), and a group of office workers (37 people). The neurotic state questionnaire by Yakhin and Mendelevich, the Pittsburgh sleep questionnaire, as well as a questionnaire on socio-demographic indices were used. Software developers showed a significant tendency to neurotic depression and reactions of hysterical type compared with the other groups. This was related with both the personal characteristics of the workers, and the content and organization of work. For the other two subgroups of professional IT-workers, characterological features played a more important role in the development of neurotic states than the content of the job.

Introduction. In the present study, a comparative assessment of the toxic effects of industrial single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT and MWCNT) at doses corresponding to industrial exposures on BEAS-2B and A549 cells was carried out. Materials and methods. The size distribution of SWCNT and MWCNT agglomerates in dispersions was estimated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Cytotoxicity was assessed using a MTS test and LDH assay. The interaction of CNTs with cells was visualized using dark-field and transmission electron microscopy. Results. Cytotoxic effects of pristine SWCNT and MWCNT in concentrations of 50-200 μg/ml and purified SWCNT in the range of 25-200 μg/ml were found in BEAS-2B cells. SWCNT and MWCNT were found to penetrate into the cytoplasm of both BEAS-2B and A549 cells, while MWCNT are more often revealed in the intracellular content as vacuolized clusters, and single SWCNT and agglomerates are visualized in the cytoplasm without a tendency to vacuolization. Limitations. CNT were introduced into cells in the form of dispersions, where both single nanotubes and their agglomerates were found. The calculation of CNT concentrations for introduction into cells was based on computer simulation. Conclusion. Further study of the mechanisms of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of different types of carbon nanotubes (CNT) may contribute to the identification of MWCNT and SWCNT specific effects on the cells of the respiratory system to develop methodological approaches to the safe use of CNT.

Introduction. Modern learning environment is a source of potential risk for the development of neurological problems among schoolchildren. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of ergonomic factors of workplaces on the functional state of the nervous system in older adolescents in the modern educational environment. Materials and methods. The ergonomic assessment of workplaces in the school at the individual workplace was given; the study of subjective complaints from the nervous system in adolescents and related factors during the questionnaire survey of schoolchildren and parents. Indicators of the functional state of the nervous system in adolescents were evaluated using the method of M.P. Moroz. Results. Headache complaints are highly prevalent among adolescents. In the course of the study, we found that staying in an irrational working posture increases the likelihood of headaches among adolescents. In addition, the irrationality of the working posture and the mismatch of the size of educational furniture with the anthropometric data of adolescents, statistically significantly affect the on the change in the indicators of the functional state of the nervous system in adolescents. Limitations. Limitations of the study include the fact that the study included groups of 15–16-year adolescents. The study is also limited by the fact that it was cross-sectional in nature. Studies investigating the influence of school ergonomic factors on the state of the nervous system of schoolchildren in dynamics may be promising. Conclusion. To prevent damage to the nervous system, it is important to observe ergonomic principles, teach adolescents to maintain a rational working posture in school.

Introduction. In the course of their occupational activities, health workers experience a huge burden, which often leads to the development of stress, emotional burnout, and changes in health status. Goal – to study the prevalence of working stress and the degree of emotional burnout in health workers with different levels of work stress. Material and methods. Two hundred ten health workers of outpatient polyclinic institutions of Kazan were examined using the questionnaire “RAMIS” (Workplace and stress) and the questionnaire of emotional burnout by K.Maslach (adapted by N.E. Vodopyanova). Results. There was recorded an increased level of stress among health workers in all age groups (31.6% at a young age, 35% on average, 42.4% in the elderly). Low level of social support (54.2%) and low level of control (43.1%) are the leading factors in the structure of working stress among health workers of outpatient clinics. A high degree of emotional burnout is equally recorded in all the age groups studied (35.9% at a young age, 40% on average, 42.3% in the elderly). A reliable relationship between working stress and emotional burnout has been determined. Limitations. Health workers in hospitals and private medical clinics were not included, as well as those who did not give informed consent to participate in this study. Conclusion. A high level of working stress was recorded in each age group studied, the relationship between age and the level of work stress was not revealed. Also, the burnout syndrome was detected in all age groups and had no connection with age. Health workers with a high level of stress were found to be much more likely to suffer from emotional burnout than people with low working stress.

Intriduction. Purpose of the study - is to evaluate the influence of ergonomic parameters of modern educational environment workplaces on the manifestation of musculoskeletal discomfort in adolescents. Materials and methods. The conformity of the size of the working places at school to the anthropometric parameters of adolescents was assessed, the goniometric parameters of the working postures were evaluated, presence of musculoskeletal discomfort was studied using an adapted version of the Nordic Questionnaire, and associated factors during the questionnaire. Results. There were revealed discrepancies between the size of the school educational furniture and the anthropometric data of adolescents, the presence of deviations from the recommended ranges for the goniometric indicators of the working postures of adolescents at school. There is a high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among adolescents. The results of the influence of an irrational working posture on the manifestation of musculoskeletal discomfort among adolescents have been obtained. Limitations. The study included groups of 10-11 years and 15-16 years adolescents. The questionnaire method was used to assess the manifestations of musculoskeletal discomfort, with no study of musculoskeletal disorders in adolescents. The study was cross-sectional in nature. Conclusion. to prevent posture disorders and manifestations of musculoskeletal discomfort, it is important to teach adolescents ergonomic principles, the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, and the preservation of a rational working posture in school activities.

Air pollution with suspended particles and gaseous substances is assumed to be a possible risk factor for bronchial asthma. Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases in children and adults, characterized by variable respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different underlying disease processes. The most common asthma phenotypes are allergic and non-allergic asthma, differing in the presence of atopy, the type of airway inflammation, responses to inhaled corticosteroid treatment. Meta-analyses, including cohort studies, support the role of fine particles in asthma in children. The question of whether the incidence of asthma in adults is associated with exposure to ambient particulate matter remains open. The chapter describes the effect of fine particles in the ambient air on the formation, course, and underlying mechanisms of different phenotype of bronchial asthma in adults. The role of ambient fine particles in the development of the eosinophilic non-allergic phenotype of bronchial asthma in adults (18–65 years old) has been proven. The hypothesis about different underlying mechanisms in response to exposure to particulate matter for various phenotypes of bronchial asthma was confirmed.

Healthcare workers are experiencing significant stress and burnout, with burnout rates reported recently ranging from 60% to 70%. The World Health Organization defines burnout as occupational phenomenon that occurs as a result of chronic stress in the workplace, which could not be dealt with. Analysis of obtained data showed that high level of stress prevailed in the age group of 60‑80 years — 43.8%, at the average age of 45‑59 years, a high level of stress was detected in 35%, and at a young age in 31.6% of medical workers. Low stress level prevailed in the age group of 45‑59 years and corresponded to 43.3%. Such employees have a high risk of developing chronic stress and stress-related health disorders. When analyzing the questionnaire on emotional burnout, it was revealed that in each age group, emotional burnout is registered in approximately equal numbers, at a young age 35.9%, at an average age 40%, and in the largest number in the older age group and is 43.8%. When analyzing the emotional burnout questionnaire, the degree of development of emotional burnout and its prevalence in workers with different levels of work stress were studied. It was revealed that at the age of 18‑44 years with a low level of stress, most employees had a low degree of emotional burnout (72.3%). Whereas in the same age group, but with a high level of stress, the majority of employees revealed a high degree of burnout (78.4.9%).

Introduction. In recent years, there has been interest in 3D cellular models that more accurately reflect in vivo conditions and can become an alternative to animal experiments in assessing the toxicity of nanomaterials. There is a need to develop 3D models of the human respiratory tract that can bridge the gap between traditional in vitro cell cultures and laboratory animals. Material and methods. Mono- and co-culture 3D-models based on bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B and lung fibroblasts MRC5-SV40 have been developed. Pristine and purified from metal impurities TUBALL™ SWCNTs and Taunit-M MWCNTs were used as materials for the study. The range of concentrations studied included concentrations corresponding to actual occupational exposures (0.0006–100 µg/ml). To assess the cytotoxicity of CNTs in cell models, the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was determined after 72 hours of exposure. Results. The cytotoxic effects of CNTs in 2D and 3D cell models manifested themselves in different concentration ranges: a three-dimensional model of bronchial epithelial cells turned out to be more sensitive to the effects of CNTs compared to a monolayer one, while in a spheroid model of fibroblasts a higher cytotoxicity threshold was noted for multi-walled carbon nanotubes compared to traditional cell culture. In three-dimensional cell co-cultures, a significant increase in LDH was observed starting at higher concentrations compared to monocultures. Limitations. The present study was limited to the use of one type of cytotoxicity test when examining the effects of CNTs on cells of the respiratory system. Conclusion. A method has been developed for three-dimensional cultivation of cells of the human respiratory system to simulate the interaction of epithelial and stromal cells of the lower respiratory tract. Traditional 2D cell models may underestimate or overestimate the toxicity of materials. Improved 3D in vitro models, closer in their properties and morphology to native tissue, are more reliable in determining toxic doses and targets.

BACKGROUND: Allergens induce eosinophilic inflammation in the T2 endotype of asthma. However, much less is known about the role of non-specific factors (suspended particles in the atmospheric air-PM). AIMS: To define eosinophilic inflammation on the basis of several biomarkers in the T2 endotype of asthma exposed to PM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 150 patients with asthma, and 61 patients with T2 endotype of asthma (ages 1865 years) were enrolled. Group 1 included 34 patients with allergic asthma, and group 2 included 27 patients with non-allergic asthma. Moreover, 30 healthy matched controls without asthma and other allergic diseases were enrolled in the study. Clinical examination and allergy testing were performed. Additionally, serum levels of IL-33, IL-25, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, DPP4 (multiplex assay), and periostin (ELISA) were evaluated. The analyses of the average annual concentrations (Avr) and the maximal annual concentrations (MaxAvr) of PM2.5 and PM10 in Kazan were conducted using the database of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Tatarstan, being averaged over the period from 2014 to 2020 years in monitoring points at residential areas. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.0.5. The study was funded by RFBR (Project no. 19-05-50094). RESULTS: We detected increased blood eosinophil count and IL-5 levels in patients with asthma. High levels of total IgE (p=0.0001) that correlated with IL-4 levels were observed only in patients with allergic asthma (rS=0.38; p=0.045). Moreover, elevated IL-25 levels were found in patients with allergic asthma (p=0.009). No significant differences in IL-13 levels in patient with asthma were found. The regression analysis revealed that the PM2.5Avr increase by 1 mcg/m3 increases IL-33 and IL-25 levels, but the PM10Avr increase raises the IL-25 levels only in patients with non-allergic asthma. No significant increase in IL-25 and IL-33 levels under exposure to PM2.5Avr and PM 10Avr was detected in patients with allergic asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate the pivotal role of fine suspended particles in the development and maintenance of eosinophilic inflammation in patients with non-allergic asthma.

Introduction: To date, issues related to the protection of medical workers from COVID-19 infection, including immunological protection, are of particular interest. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of a new coronavirus infection depending on the initial immune status and occupational group during a 150-day follow-up. Materials and Methods: The study of immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus was carried out in the frame of the large-scale program ruled by the state body responsible for the epidemiological surveillance. From the regional sample, medical workers (301 people) without a previous history of the new coronavirus infection at the time of biosampling (June 2020) were selected. The comparison group included 52 workers and was formed from engineering and technical personnel not employed in medical institutions. Within 150 days from the blood sampling, cases of the new coronavirus infection were monitored based on the patient's inclusion in the Federal Register of COVID-19 patients. To estimate the adjusted hazard ratios, Cox proportional hazards models was applied. Results and Conclusions: In 150-day follow-up it was revealed that the probability of remaining healthy by the end of the follow-up was the lowest among doctors from medical and preventive institutions (MPI) that did not serve as temporary hospitals: HR 2,33 [95% CI 0,95;5,70], which may be due to both insufficient anti-epidemic measures and the peculiarities of the immune response and approaches for its evaluation. The risk of COVID-19 in seronegative individuals was higher, but without statistical significance.

AIM: to study the role of fine suspended particles in the atmospheric air in the formation of allergic, non-allergic and mixed phenotypes of bronchial asthma in adults. METHODS: The analysis of atmospheric air pollution by fine particles in Kazan was carried out according to the database of social and hygienic monitoring of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Tatarstan for 20142020. To study the relationship between the level of atmospheric air pollution with fine particles and bronchial asthma in adults (1865 years old), a retrospective analysis of the incidence of bronchial asthma (ICD-10 codes J45.0, J45.1, J45.8) was carried out during the same period among the population of Kazan. The regional medical information system "Electronic Health of the Republic of Tatarstan" was used. Statistical modeling was carried out using the method of mixed models based on the Poisson distribution or the negative binomial distribution. RESULTS: The average annual absolute risk of bronchial asthma in the adult population of Kazan was 0.51 per 100 people aged 1865 years, an increase of 0.09 per 100 people (17.6%) per year (p=0.039). An increase in the annual maximum concentrations of PM2,5 by 10 g increased the absolute risk of non-allergic bronchial asthma by 0.066 per 100 people aged 1865 years (p=0.043). Similar dependences, but without statistical significance at the level of p 0.05, were found for such exposure parameters as the mass concentration of РМ10 and the mass of particles deposited in the tracheobronchial and alveolar sections of the lungs. For allergic and mixed asthma, no statistically significant relationships with mass concentrations and deposited doses of suspended particles were found. CONCLUSION: Air pollution with fine suspended particles increases the risk of developing a non-allergic phenotype of adult bronchial asthma, which may be associated with specific pathogenetic mechanisms, including the reaction of the epithelium to the deposition of fine particles.

Aim. Comparative assessment of the effect of fibrous materials on cell cultures RAW264.7 and BEAS-2B. Methods. The effects of various fibrous materials single-walled carbon nanotubes of two types (SWCNT-1 and SWCNT-2), differing in morphological characteristics, and chrysotile asbestos as a positive control was assessed on two cell lines macrophages RAW 264.7 and human bronchial epithelium BEAS-2B cells. The studied materials concentration range for experiments on cells was selected taking into account the SWCNT content in the air of the working area and the subsequent modeling of SWCNT deposition in the human respiratory tract. Suspensions of the studied materials were prepared based on cell culture media by ultrasonication. Cytotoxicity assessment after 48 hours of incubation was performed by using the MTS colorimetric assay. The expression level of apoptosis markers was assessed by immunoblotting using the corresponding monoclonal antibodies. Visualization of SWCNT-1, SWCNT-2 and chrysotile asbestos in BEAS-2B cell cultures was carried out by improved dark-field microscopy. Results. According to dark-field microscopy, all the studied fibrous materials were found on the surface or cytoplasm of the cells. SWCNT and chrysotile asbestos did not have a direct cytotoxic effect in the MTS assay and did not induce apoptosis according to the results of Western blotting in cell cultures of RAW264.7 macrophages and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelium. In the cells of the bronchial epithelium (BEAS-2B) that showed greater sensitivity, a slight increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic protein PARP, which was more pronounced for shorter SWCNT-2, was revealed. Conclusion. Both types of SWCNTs, despite the differences in morphological characteristics, demonstrated similar effects in in vitro experiments; this result, with its further verification, can have an important practical application in justifying approaches to determining the safety criteria for single-walled carbon nanotubes as a class of nanomaterials of the same type.

Abstract: Introduction. Air pollution with particulate matter (PM) is a serious global problem. In the Russian Federation, regular field measurements of PMs in the ambient air are carried out only in a number of cities, and the data, as a rule, are not systematized. Aim of the study: retrospective analysis of the data set on concentrations of fine particles in the ambient air of the city of Kazan. Methods. Retrospective analysis of pollution by fine fractions of suspended solids in the ambient air of Kazan in the period from 2016 to 2020 has been carried out. To study the effect of individual factors (time period (year), measurement time during the day, climatic conditions, the presence of other pollutants) on the pollution levels PM 10 and PM 2.5, regression analysis was applied based on the method of mixed models. Results. The PM 10 concentrations remained stable over a 5-year period, while the PM 2.5 concentrations decreased. At the same time, an increase in the maximum annual concentrations of both fractions was observed. The concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 significantly depended on weather factors. The presence of nitrogen oxides and organic carbon in the ambient air was associated with significantly higher concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5. Conclusion. A statistically significant upward trend in the dynamics of the years of the maximum annual values for both fractions of suspended particles can increase health risks. Secondary pollutants (nitrogen oxides, organic carbon) is an important factor for the formation of secondary particles in the ambient air. Implementation of preventive measures in relation to industrial emissions, regional urban planning policy and a scientifically based program of social and hygienic monitoring are the most important tools for effective management of health risks caused by exposure to fine particles.

The review presents up-to-date information on the health effects of ambient fine particulate matter, obtained in large cohort epidemiological studies, as well as in meta-analysis of pooled data. In addition, it summarizes the current data on the potential pathological mechanisms and existing monitoring systems. The literature search used the Scopus, PubMed, Russian Science Citation Index databases for 19902020. The results of epidemiological studies carried out in different countries indicate that fine particles in ambient air pose a serious threat to health. Scientific publications assessing the health impact of particulate matter show a wide range of adverse effects from the increasing incidence of upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, including exacerbations of bronchial asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to a high incidence of myocardial infarction, strokes, diabetes mellitus type 2, as well as an increase in overall mortality from natural causes, mainly mortality from respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, lung cancer. The effects of short-term exposures are described in more detail, while the effects of long-term exposure to fine particles are not well understood. Potential mechanisms of the harmful effects of fine particulate matter include oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, disorders of autonomic regulation and heart rhythm, fine particles translocation through the alveolar barrier into the vascular bed with endothelial damage and thrombus formation, and genotoxicity. Ambient fine particulate matter is a manageable risk factor, and reductions in air pollution will have a significant impact on public health outcomes.