Trace element status and health of Northern populations: a scientific review

Cover Page


Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

Available publications define the objectives of biogeochemistry and introduce its key concepts: living matter and biogenic migration of chemical elements. According to studies, the biochemical parameters of living organisms depend on the geochemical environment and the content of essential elements within it. Researchers suggest that the physiological system of trace elements in living organisms serves as a structural and functional basis for metabolic processes.

Biogeochemical provinces are areas with imbalanced concentrations of chemical elements. Trace element imbalance is geochemical diseases in humans and animals, with defined mechanisms of formation. Evidence shows that both deficiencies and excess of bioelements in the human body contribute to psychosomatic disorders, such as lifestyle diseases, reduced fertility, an increase in infertile marriages, and various forms of deviant behavior.

Regional biogeochemical research is needed to study the distribution of chemical elements in the environment, plants, animals, and the human body. The natural and climatic conditions and the biogeochemical profile of northern regions are still poorly studied, particularly with regard to the elemental status of residents in the Arctic areas. Low levels of essential elements in the biosphere of the North create a biological burden for the population and contribute to an increased risk of trace element imbalance. Studies have identified common features of elemental status among residents of both the Asian and European North, including widespread deficiencies of cobalt, selenium, calcium, and iodine. Among migrants to the North, lower levels of iron, selenium, and fluoride lead to an acclimatization-related deficiency of these elements.

The published data also indicates that the biosphere of the North is polluted. Arctic contamination affects soil and vegetation, drinking water, and leads to bioaccumulation of toxic elements such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic in living organisms.

Nutritional patterns in the North are characterized by a reduced share of traditional food products in the local diet. The natural deficiency of essential elements, enhanced by the loss of biologically valuable nutrition, contributes to further deficiency of iron, zinc, cobalt, copper, manganese, iodine, and selenium, reducing the human body’s adaptive potential in northern conditions.

An analysis of ecological and medical issues related to iodine allows clarifying its physiological role, assessing iodine sufficiency among the Russian population, identifying iodine deficiency as a public health concern, and proposing corrective measures.

In conclusion, maintaining the health of northern populations requires biogeochemical monitoring of Arctic regions, identification of territories predisposed to biogeochemical endemics, and prevention of diseases of geochemical origin.

Full Text

At the present stage of development of society, human vital indicators (health, life expectancy, its quality) are becoming increasingly dependent on the state of the environment. Chemical elements act as a link between inert nature and the biosphere, and in this sense, biochemical and physiological parameters of living organisms are derived from the geochemical environment. It has been suggested that in the process of evolution, it was chemical elements (microelements, bioelements, metals of life) that became the basis for the formation of all regulatory mechanisms (endocrine, immune, nervous), which are a superstructure in relation to the system of bioelements [1, 2]. The physiological system of microelements in higher organisms is integrating, uniting neuro-immune-hormonal regulatory complexes [3]. The biological role of microelements lies in their participation in the construction of macro- and microstructures of living organisms and in ensuring metabolic processes, due to maintaining the activity of enzymes, hormones, vitamins, cytokines and other biological molecules. Since the second half of the last century, there has been an active evolution of the elemental composition of the biosphere, caused by anthropogenic impact on the natural environment and increased migration of chemical substances. The consequence of the technogenesis of the biosphere was the transformation of biogeochemical cycles and the formation of artificial geochemical provinces [4, 5], characterized by a violation of the content of chemical elements in the soil and water, as well as in the body of plants, animals and, accordingly, humans living in this territory. The high dynamism of socio-ecological processes, technogenic transfer of inorganic matter, an increase in the rate of biospheric exchange of chemical elements, socially conditioned migration of food products lead to a violation of elemental homeostasis and a transformation of the elemental profile of human populations, unable to dynamically respond to revolutionary changes in society and the geochemical environment. Microelement homeostasis implies high resistance of an individual to the effects of the external environment. But excessive environmental loads, accompanied by changes in the chemical composition of the environment, lead to an imbalance of bioelements in living organisms (deficiency, excess). As a result of violation of the standard concentrations of individual elements and their relationships, destructive changes in cellular and tissue components, disturbances in metal-ligand complexes, dysfunctions of regulatory systems and the development of microelementoses - diseases of the biogeochemical nature of humans, animals, plants - occur [6, 7]. Moreover, such diseases are usually based on polyelement disorders, where one of the elements is the leading factor in the pathology. Well-known environmentally-induced diseases include iron deficiency anemia (iron, magnesium, copper and other elements), iodine deficiency diseases (iodine, selenium, etc.), immunodeficiency states (selenium, zinc, iodine, etc.), cardiovascular diseases (potassium, magnesium, selenium, iron), diseases of the musculoskeletal system (calcium, magnesium, strontium, silicon) and other structural and functional disorders associated with imbalance of bioelements. The idea that a violation of the elemental profile in the body is the environmental and pathological basis of diseases of civilization (cardiovascular diseases, oncology, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.) has been formulated and substantiated [8]. Among residents of ecologically unfavorable regions with a deficiency of vital elements, fertility disorders [2], an increase in the frequency of infertile marriages, a growing demographic crisis [9, 10], as well as depopulation processes of small northern peoples [11, 12, 13] are noted. Features of the elemental status of residents of certain biogeochemical territories can determine the psychophysiological traits of a person. The potential role of biologically significant elements in the development of various forms of deviant behavior in humans (aggressiveness, depression, risk of alcoholism, drug use) has been shown [14, 15]. The listed problems are studied by a relatively new scientific direction Bioelementology - an interdisciplinary science that studies the unity of the inorganic and organic worlds based on the chemical composition of the ecological systems of the biosphere, including the human body [16, 17, 18, 19]. One of the areas of Bioelementology is Medical Elementology, the tasks of which include the study of the bioelement profile of a person with mineral metabolism disorders, its correction, as well as the development of scientific and practical measures for the prevention of elementoses [20, 21, 22]. According to researchers, the elimination of bioelement deficiency and the correction of the metal-ligand complex are comparable in physiological significance to the editing of the genetic apparatus [9].

Taking into account the medical and social significance of the inorganic component of the biosphere, knowledge of regional biogeochemistry, distribution of chemical elements in the environment (water, soil) and the body of humans, animals, and plants are of fundamental importance. In this regard, many developed countries study natural and anthropogenic factors that determine the content and distribution of chemical elements in soils, their availability to plants, and their ability to pass into the hydrosphere and atmosphere. In recent decades, regional population surveys have been conducted to establish reference values ​​of chemical elements in human biosubstrates. Based on the data obtained, conclusions are made about the elemental status of populations, and the policies of states and international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, etc.) are formed regarding population nutrition, food and environmental security [23, 24]. Large-scale projects devoted to studying the provision of the population of different territories with iron, iodine, selenium, as well as technogenic loads of heavy metals, and above all mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, are well known. Within the framework of the federal program "National System of Chemical and Biological Safety of the Russian Federation (2009-2014)" a large-scale study of the microelement status of the population of Russia was conducted. Information was obtained on the background levels of chemical elements in residents of various regions (federal districts), on the basis of which a 5-volume manual "Elemental Status of the Population of Russia" was published [25]. According to the results of the specified elemental screening, the northern regions of Russia turned out to be the least studied. The poor biogeochemical study of the North was explained by financial, personnel and methodological difficulties associated with the study of hard-to-reach and sparsely populated northern territories. Meanwhile, the North of Russia is a huge biogeochemical province with reduced adaptive capabilities of humans, where mineral metabolism disorders manifest themselves at the population level and require medical and ecological control [26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33]. Moreover, biogeochemical studies indicate a common elemental status of residents of the Asian and European North, which is consistent with geochemical data and indicates a biogeochemical kinship of the northern territories of Russia. It is assumed that the uniform picture of elemental deviations indicates common mechanisms of human biochemical adaptation to environmental conditions [34]. The geochemical environment of the northern regions, due to mineral-poor podzolic soils and low-mineralized drinking water, is characterized by an extremely low content of biogenic elements. The soil and hydrological conditions of the North create biological loads for the local population and predetermine the risk of developing manifest and latent forms of microelementoses. One of the ecological and medical problems of the residents of the North is a deficiency of calcium and magnesium salts, which is associated with the predominant use of surface water by the population, which is characterized by weak mineralization and low hardness [35, 36, 32, 37, 38]. Differences in circulatory diseases and mortality depending on the "hardness" of drinking water have been established: a low concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in water correlates with an increase in morbidity and mortality [10]. A deficiency of these elements contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. In regions with soft water, the incidence of hypertension is 25-30% higher than in other regions. The leading role in the development of arterial hypertension is given to magnesium: its deficiency is considered as the primary link in pathogenesis [39, 40, 41]. At the same time, with a sufficient level of calcium, magnesium or essential microelements, a protective effect of hard water has been noted, in particular a decrease in mortality rates [42]. A reduced calcium content is a key indicator in residents of the North. In addition to the use of soft drinking water, calcium deficiency is caused by the action of other northern-specific factors: hypoinsolation (deficiency of vitamin D), acclimatization decrease in the element, chronic action of low temperatures (participation in thermoregulation). The decrease in calcium in residents initiated by the cold is based on classical concepts about the role of calcium ions in maintaining temperature homeostasis [43]. It has been shown that the adaptation of the body to cold leads to a reliable decrease in calcium ions in the blood [44]. Low-mineralized (ultra-fresh) water, in addition to cardiovascular diseases, is the cause of secondary vitamin deficiencies. Possible vitamin deficiency is associated with the physiological (competitive) role of minerals (copper and iron salts) in the assimilation of certain vitamins (vit. B1, B12) by the body [45].

It has been shown that in migrants from the North, as they live in extreme conditions, there is a decrease in the level of not only calcium, but also other essential elements - iron, selenium, fluorine, which is regarded as a functional depletion of their reserves and the formation of an acclimatization deficit [46, 47, 48]. The problem of natural (endemic) elementoses is significantly exacerbated by the anthropogenic factor. The unfavorable biogeochemical nature of the North is aggravated by environmental pollution, including drinking water [49, 50] and the accumulation of toxic elements in living organisms, mainly due to the global transfer of pollutants from the middle latitudes to the Arctic [51, 42, 52]. The increase in the content of chemicals in the biosphere, in particular in rivers and seas, as well as the deterioration of their sanitary and microbiological indicators are occurring so rapidly that they threaten unpredictable consequences for the ecology of water systems and human health [53]. According to the researchers, when considering the geographical differences in pollution of the Arctic territories, it is necessary to take into account the movement of air masses and ocean currents that carry pollutants over huge distances, as well as the range and geography of migration routes of birds, fish and marine mammals. Ecological studies of the Arctic environment indicate an increase in pollution by heavy metals. It was found that the content of Fe, Zn, V, Cu, Ni, Mo, Co in Arctic ice is significantly higher than in surface waters, and therefore the melting of glaciers is a potential source of heavy metals. The accumulation of toxic elements in plants (lichen), meat (venison, marine mammals), poultry, fish and seafood in the biosphere of the northern regions has been shown [54]. The complex of heavy metals through food chains provokes the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure, neurodegenerative pathology, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic kidney diseases, immunoallergic disorders, and also develops reproductive toxicity and exhibits properties of endocrine system dysregulators [22, 55]. When comparing the levels of exposure to toxic substances of the population of the circumpolar Arctic with the corresponding biomonitoring data in other regions of the planet, it was shown that Arctic populations experience heavier loads of some pollutants. For example, mercury concentrations in the blood of Arctic residents are much higher than among the non-Arctic population of the USA and Canada [52]. Mercury is a pollutant that causes particular concern for the state of Arctic ecosystems and human health. In terms of its impact on living organisms, it is one of the most toxic metals, acting as a cumulative poison [55]. The World Health Organization considers mercury to be one of the 10 main chemicals that pose a "serious public health problem" [56]. A meta-analysis of mercury content data in samples of indicator organisms in the North demonstrated a clear tendency for the metal level to increase from west to east. Much attention has recently been paid to the study of mercury accumulation in aquatic ecosystems, in particular, an increase in mercury levels in Arctic lakes has been noted. The main food source of mercury in the Northern regions are freshwater and sea fish, seafood, and the meat of marine mammals, in whose muscle tissue mercury bioaccumulates in the form of the organic compound methylmercury, which is a potent neurotoxin. Mercury and lead levels have been found to increase in reindeer meat; in recent decades, mercury and selenium levels have increased significantly in the livers of polar bears in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland (excess selenium has a toxic effect) [57]. In pregnant women living in Greenland, mercury and cadmium levels in the blood have also been linked to seafood consumption. Mercury has been shown to pose a serious risk to fertility and pregnancy outcomes, as it can cause reproductive dysfunction [58]. Despite the fact that traditional Aboriginal food is an important source of macro- and micronutrients, it contains elevated levels of heavy metals, organochlorine compounds, and radionuclides. Thus, among all cases of contamination of food samples in the Russian Arctic, Siberia and the Far East, contamination with mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium is distributed in approximately equal proportions [52]. Elevated mercury levels were noted in 96% of the aborigines of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (continental region); the mercury level was increased by 4 times and correlated with the high content of this element in freshwater fish [59]. High mercury and lead levels were found in fish caught in Chukotka. Exceeding permissible mercury levels was shown in pink salmon caught in the rivers of continental Chukotka - sources of drinking water for local residents [60].Studies of residents of the Magadan Region and Chukotka showed the presence of mercury and lead in the hair of the indigenous population of coastal villages, whose diet is based on fish. The mercury concentration did not exceed the safe permissible level, but was higher than background indicators for the Russian Federation [61].

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Исходный текст

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 382 / 5 000
 

Результаты перевода

Перевод

When analyzing toxic elements in the human body, one should take into account the manifestations of complex competitive-antagonistic relationships between bioelements, which may result in the displacement of essential elements by toxic ones with the formation of secondary hypoelementoses. Physiological antagonists of mercury are selenium and sulfur. Selenium, as a powerful antioxidant and immunomodulatory element, is a functional antidote to mercury, which, in turn, at excess concentrations, displaces selenium from biological environments. It is known that there is a strong positive relationship between the concentrations of mercury and selenium in the tissues of many species of fish-eating wild animals, especially predatory marine mammals. The relationship between mercury and selenium represents the interaction of the "toxicant - nutrient" system, which must be taken into account when assessing the environment. Mammals and birds with a high trophic level can be partially protected from the toxic effects of methylmercury due to chelation of inorganic mercury by selenium in a molar ratio of 1:1. These mercury-selenium ratios in muscles, liver and kidneys have been studied in a large number of species of marine animals from Greenland; the results showed that in most of the studied individuals, molar concentrations of selenium prevailed over the content of mercury in tissues [62]. Further technogenic accumulation of mercury in the World Ocean cannot be neutralized by antagonist elements, which poses a potential threat to public health. Elevated mercury levels in the aborigines of Chukotka (Chukchi, Eskimos) were noted as early as the 1970s [63]. Moreover, its excess content already at that time corresponded to areas of geochemical anomalies. But high mercury levels were balanced by a high selenium content. High concentrations of both elements can be explained by the peculiarities of the diet of the aboriginal inhabitants - the consumption of meat of marine animals (whale, walrus, seal), rich in both selenium and accumulating methylmercury. In the Northern regions, the accumulation of neurotoxic mercury in the body of residents with a simultaneous deficiency of essential selenium can be the basis of poorly studied microelementoses. In addition to participation in the development of neurological diseases, there is evidence that elevated mercury levels provoke the development of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and the role of mercury in the formation of autistic behavior is also discussed [65]. As noted, in migrants of the North, as they live in the Arctic territories, there is a functional depletion of reserves of some essential elements. But a similar situation is also characteristic of the modern population of the indigenous population, in particular the aboriginal inhabitants of the North-East of Russia (Evens, Koryaks, Chukchi), who have a reduced content of a large group of essential elements (cobalt, magnesium, chromium, iodine), including selenium [65, 66]. The biogeochemical situation of the northern territories, relatively suitable for the indigenous population, can be uncomfortable and even extreme for the visiting population. Adaptive restructuring of migrants in the conditions of the North is accompanied by stress in metabolic processes, the formation of an acclimatization deficiency of elements and, ultimately, a violation of elemental homeostasis, which aggravates the natural deficiency of vital elements. In addition, the migration activity of the population and the discrepancy between the physiology of newcomers and the environment, including regional biogeochemistry, lead to a breakdown in adaptation and can be the basis for various diseases of a multifactorial nature [67], including complex elementoses. The natural conditions of the North (especially the Arctic territories) can be called a comfortable zone for human habitation with a large degree of conventionality. The territories of the North are an environment where people are exposed to the harsh impact of a complex of natural and climatic factors. These are extreme temperature and wind conditions, increased energy expenditure, contrasting photoperiodicity rhythm, sharp changes in atmospheric pressure, hypoxia, anomalies of geomagnetic fields, desertification and monotony of the landscape, etc. [68, 42, 69, 70, 37, 71]. The adaptation of migrants here is taking place with very strong tension of the adaptation systems with a tendency towards decompensation. These territories are absolutely unsuitable for the formation of a permanent population from alien contingents even with the creation of specialized life support systems [72].
The complex of natural and climatic factors of the North forms a global medical and biological phenomenon - polar tension syndrome [73], leading to disruption of metabolic processes and development of marginal forms of pathology. At the same time, the North is a kind of natural laboratory for studying adaptive reactions of man. Residence of human populations for a long historical period in extreme conditions (aboriginal population), as well as the presence in the North of a visiting population - migrants from comfortable natural and climatic regions, the manifestation of adaptive and maladaptive reactions, are an ideal natural base for studying issues of ecological physiology, including the study of human reserve capabilities in Arctic conditions. Of particular interest are the still existing "isolates" - aboriginal communities living in remote places of the North and preserving ethnic traditions, customs and way of life. Isolated communities of aboriginals are a unique model for studying the possibilities of human survival in extreme conditions (climate, biogeochemistry, nutrition, health, life expectancy). It is believed that the effect of northern-specific factors is practically not compensated by social or other protective measures [69]. But modern capabilities of civilization (functional clothing, nutrition adequate to metabolism) are able to partially neutralize the extreme impact of the North. But not all environmental factors can be weakened, neutralized or compensated by the "benefits" of civilization. In addition to seasonal light cycles, geomagnetic anomalies and changes in atmospheric pressure, the geochemical features of the Arctic regions should be attributed to the unchanging, constantly acting natural factors of the North - weakly mineralized drinking water and local food products poor in minerals, which predetermines the physiological deficiency of essential micronutrients. In addition, the natural deficiency of trace elements in migrants is aggravated by their acclimatization deficiency (iron, selenium, calcium), as well as the unbalanced structure of the diets of both migrants and the indigenous population. Moreover, nutrition plays the main role in ensuring metabolic and adaptive processes in the conditions of the North [74, 75, 76, 77, 78]. The aboriginal population of the North is relatively adapted to the natural and climatic environment, including the biogeochemical environment. It is known that the aboriginals of the North with a traditional way of life are characterized by a special metabolism - the "polar metabolic type" with a predominance of protein-lipid components in the diet and a minimum of carbohydrates [73. This type of metabolism has an anti-stress effect, prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases and promotes adaptation to extreme environmental conditions [79, 80]. This phenomenon is associated with the intake of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (fish, marine meat), which have an anti-sclerotic and cardioprotective effect [81, 82]. Researchers believe that evolutionarily developed metabolic mechanisms are genetically fixed [83, 67]. However, revolutionary changes in the natural and social environment (ecology, nutrition, lifestyle) are capable of epigenetically "breaking" hereditary metabolic mechanisms. The destruction of the traditional way of life of the aboriginal population of the North changed their diet [74]. The transition to European cuisine (mixed diet, excess of simple carbohydrates) led to a breakdown of adaptive processes and the development of metabolic diseases associated with the intensification of carbohydrate metabolism and an increase in atherogenic lipids in the blood [80, 82]. Metabolic dependence on lipid-protein nutrition and insufficient content of adaptogenic components, including minerals, in the Western type of nutrition lead to an additional decrease in the biological resistance of the human body in the conditions of the North [79]. At the same time, avitaminosis and the appearance of previously uncharacteristic diseases, in particular rickets, are noted among the aborigines [83]. Epidemiological studies of the Alaska Eskimos revealed the prevalence of diseases of atherosclerotic etiology in the population [84]. The natural deficiency of biogenic elements, aggravated by the loss of biologically valuable traditional nutrition, against the background of metabolic disorders, is accompanied by an increase in the deficiency of essential micronutrients in the aborigineous inhabitants of the North, including iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and a number of other elements [85, 67, 86].
When planning biogeochemical studies in the Arctic regions, it is already possible to predict a priori microelementoses initiated by a deficiency of iron, iodine, calcium, magnesium and an excess of mercury, lead, cadmium. Possible endemics of natural or man-made genesis can be associated both with an imbalance of individual elements and with the negative impact on humans of their unpredictable combinations. Particular attention should be paid to iodine when studying the biogeochemistry of Arctic territories. Iodine deficiency remains a relevant and acute medical and social problem that has not been solved even in countries where methods of individual and collective prevention of iodine deficiency diseases have been sufficiently developed and implemented [87]. Changes in the dietary structure and a decrease in fish and seafood in the diet of residents of the Arctic regions are a predictor of the development of iodine deficiency diseases in them. In conditions of iodine deficiency in the biosphere and the absence of proper iodine prophylaxis, the population of the Arctic regions can be expected to have severe forms of iodine deficiency, which can be accompanied by thyroid pathology, impaired physical and mental development, immunodeficiency states, reproductive dysfunction, and early aging. According to literature, with a high prevalence of iodine deficiency, in some regions of the North, Siberia, and the Far East (the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Tyva, Khakassia, and some areas of the Arkhangelsk Region), foci of severe iodine deficiency have been discovered [88, 89, 90]. When analyzing iodine provinces, it should be taken into account that not all regions of Russia are iodine-deficient. There are also regions on the territory of Russia with sufficient and even increased iodine content in the biosphere, which is due to the high level of the element in natural waters. Accumulation of iodine in water is found in areas where oil and gas-bearing layers are located close to aquifers. Groundwater in these areas, used for water supply and irrigation of agricultural crops, contains high concentrations of iodine, allowing its industrial extraction. According to the data of the biogeochemical laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences [91], in Russia the boundary of the natural prevalence of iodine-deficiency goiter passes through the Vychegda River (Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk Region). Territories located north of the Vychegda River are iodine-rich [92]. An example of iodine-saturated natural water in the European North is the groundwater of the Severodvinsk Depression. It has been shown that the iodine content in the aquifer complex of the Northern Dvina Delta is 5-30.5 mg/l [93], which made it possible to develop a technology for producing crystalline iodine in this area. Conclusion. Thus, the population of the Arctic regions is exposed to the negative impact of northern-specific factors, including the impact of a mineral-poor habitat. The result is the manifestation of specific elementoses that disrupt the adaptive capabilities of northern populations, which requires medical and ecological control of the northern regions and the prevention of diseases of a biogeochemical nature. The urgent need for the development of northern territories, the development of the Arctic shelf, exploration and extraction of minerals, border protection increases the influx of people from other regions of Russia to the North (military service, shift production, long-term residence). Social and migration activity dictates the need for biogeochemical studies, geochemical zoning of the Arctic regions (water, soil, food, elemental status of the population), identifying the "predisposition" of individual territories to biogeochemical endemics and correction and prevention of northern elementoses.

 

×

About the authors

Anatoly L. Gorbachev

Federal Research Center for Comprehensive Study of the Arctic named after Academician N.P. Laverov

Author for correspondence.
Email: gor000@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2432-3408
SPIN-code: 7050-3412

Dr. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, 20 Nikolsky ave, Arkhangelsk, 163020

References

  1. Vernadsky VI. Biogeochemical essays. Moscow-Leningrad: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1940. (In Russ)
  2. Akmayev IG. Neuroimmunoendocrinology, its developmental consideration. Uspekhi Fiziologicheskikh Nauk. 2003;34(4):4–15. (In Russ.) EDN: OPKGWR
  3. Vinogradov AP. Biogeochemical provinces and endemics. DAN SSSR. 1938;18(4/5):283–286. (In Russ.)
  4. Ermakov VV. A.P. Vinogradov's concept of biogeochemical provinces and its development. Geochemistry International. 2017;55(10):872–886. doi: 10.7868/S0016752517100041 EDN: ZHNBZX
  5. Korobova EM, Baranchukova VS, Kolmykova LI. Theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of spatial patterns of distribution of endemic diseases of geochemical nature. Geohimiâ. 2023;68(10):1073–1086. doi: 10.31857/S0016752523100060 EDN: NLACVQ
  6. Avtsyn AP, Zhavoronkov AA. Microelementoses diseases caused by deficiency, excess and imbalance of microelements in the body of humans and animals. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 1994;(2):53-57. (In Russ.).
  7. Shatova OP, Zuikov SA, Zabolotneva AA, et al. Bioelements: role in the development of diseases of civilization. East European Scientific Journal. Medical Sciences. 2021;4(11(75)):45-58. doi: 10.31618/ESSA.2782-1994.2021.4.75.175 EDN: NQTDAN
  8. Borisov VV. Role of trace mineral deficiencies in decreased fertility and infertility (Clinical Lecture). Clinical review for general practice. 2021;4:64–70. doi: 10.47407/kr2021.2.4.00062 EDN: ICJWRE
  9. Oberlis D, Harland B, Skalny A. Biological role of macro- and microelements in humans and animals. St. Petersburg: Nauka, 2008. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-02-025305-6 EDN: QKRRQX
  10. Agadzhanyan NA, Skalny AV, Detkov VYu. Human elemental portrait: Morbidity, demography and problem of nation health management. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2013;20(11):3-12. doi: 10.17816/humeco17282 EDN: RKRTQZ
  11. Nadtochiy LA, Smirnova SV, Bronnikova EP. The depopulation of indigenous and small-numbered peoples and problem of preserving of ethnic groups of the North-East of Russia. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2015;23(3):3–11. doi: 10.17816/humeco17087 EDN: TMITDX
  12. Talykova LV, Megorsky VV, Bykov VR. Mortality trends in indigenous working-age population of the Koryak Okrug and the population of the arctic monotown in 1968-1991. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2022;29(9):617-629. doi: 10.17816/humeco108281 EDN: OVCJYY
  13. Mulik AB, Nazarov NO, Ulesikova V, et al. Elemental status and psychological predisposition of the Russian population to deviant behavior Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2023;30(6):457–467.doi: 10.17816/humeco409629 EDN: JBIHHI
  14. Bykov VA, Skalny AV. Bioelementology as an integrative direction in life science. Problems of Biological, Medical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. 2011;(6);4-8. EDN: PVBUGV
  15. Shafran LM. Medical elementology: new direction, new paradigm. Trace elements in medicine. 2019;20(4):63-68. EDN: YWOVKH
  16. Chereshnev VA, Poznyakovskiy VM. The food supply security problem: national and international aspects. Food industry. 2016;(1(1)):6-14. EDN: YHWOQL
  17. Skalny AV. Evaluation and correction of elemental status of the population as a perspective direction of national healthcare and environmental monitoring. Trace elements in medicine. 2018;19(1):5–13. doi: 10.19112/2413-6174-2018-19-1-5-13 EDN: XODDRR
  18. Aftanas LI, Bonitenko EYu, Varenik VI, et al. Elemental status of the population of Russia. Skalny AV, Kiselev MF, editors. St. Petersburg: Medkniga "ELBI-SPb", 2010-2014. ISBN: 978-5-91322-017-2 EDN: QKTYJB
  19. Gorbachev AL. Efimova АV, Lugovaya ЕА, Bulban АP. Features of element's status of inhabitants of different natural-geographic territories of the Magadan region. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2003;(6):12–16.EDN: HRTKUV
  20. Gorbachev AL, Dobrodeeva LK, Tedder YuR, Shatsova EN. Biogeochemical description of northern regions. microelement status of Arkhangelsk region population and prediction of endemic diseases development. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2007;(1):4-11.EDN: HVISFZ
  21. Egorova GА. Element status of grown-up population living in different medical-geographic zones of republic Sakha (Yakutia). Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2007;(1):55-59. EDN: HVISJL
  22. Vinogradova IA, Varganova DV, Lugovaya EA. Hair macro- and microelement assessment in residents of european north depending on gender and age. Advances in Gerontology. 2021;34(4):572-580. doi: 10.34922/AE.2021.34.4.010 EDN: AGOIZC
  23. Gorbachev AL, Skalny AV, Lugovaya EA. Some patterns of elemental status of residents of the northern regions of Russia against the background of biogeochemical characteristics of the North. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2008;5A(28):22-25. (In Russ.)
  24. Gorbachev AL. The role of the chemical composition of drinking water in the formation of human elemental status. Trace elements in medicine. 2006;7(2):11-24. (In Russ.) EDN: NPTFBL
  25. Vinogradova IA, Varganova DV, Matveeva YuP, et al. Prevalence of calcium deficiency in the hair in people at different age and sex living in the European North. Advances in Gerontology. 2023;36(1):109-114. doi: 10.34922/AE.2023.36.1.014 EDN: HLEKVW
  26. Nikanov AN, Gudkov AB, Popova ON, et al. Blood mineral composition in residents of the arctic region with low water mineralization rates in centralized tap water supply systems. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2021;(3):42–47. doi: 10.33396/1728-0869-2021-3-42-47 EDN: CRGVJU
  27. Kirillova AV, Dorshakova NV, Dudanov IP. On the pathogenesis of hypertension and ischemic heart disease with a deficiency of calcium and magnesium intake in the North. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2006;(1):3–8.EDN: HRTCMR
  28. Yahyaev MA, Salikhov ShK, Abdulkadyrova SO, et al. Contents of magnesium in the environment and population morbidity rate of arterial hypertension. Hygiene and Sanitation. 2019;98(5):494-497. doi: 10.18821/0016-9900-2019-98-5-494-497 EDN: DNTINT
  29. Chashchin VP, Gudkov AB, Popova ON, et al. Description of main health risk factors for population living in the territories of active economic exploitaition of natural resources in the Arctic. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2014;21(1):3–12. doi: 10.17816/humeco17269 EDN: RYIEQP
  30. Kozyreva TV, Tkachenko EYa. Afferent and efferent links of the thermoregulation system during the organism’s adaptation to cold. In: Essays on ecological physiology. Trufakin VA, Shoshenko KA, editors. Novosibirsk: SB RAMS;1999. P.61-72. (In Russ.) EDN: UKXBTL
  31. Kodentsova VM, Pogozheva AV, Gromova OA, Shikh EV. Vitamin-mineral supplements in nutrition of adults. Voprosy Pitania. 2015;84(6):41-150.EDN: VEAEHX
  32. Marachev AG, Zhavoronkov AA. Acclimatization iron deficiency. Fiziologiâ čeloveka. 1987;13(4):640–646. (In Russ.)
  33. Nikanov AN, Dorofeev VM, Megorsky VV, Zhirov VK, editors. Ecological aspects of accumulation of mineral elements in the body of the population living in areas of intensive industrial activity in the European part of the Arctic zone of Russia: monograph. Apatity: Publishing House of KSC RAS; 2020. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-91137-440-2 doi: 10.37614/978.5.91137.440.2 EDN: USESQL
  34. Bogoslovskaya LS, Slugin IV, Zagrebin IA, Krupnik II. Fundamentals of marine mammal hunting: scientific and methodological manual. Moscow-Anadyr: Institute of Heritage; 2007. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-86443-142-9 EDN: QKZECR
  35. Dudarev A, Odland JO. Human health in connection with arctic pollution-results and perspectives of international studies under the aegis of AMAP. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2017;(9):3-14. doi: 10.33396/1728-0869-2017-9-3-14 EDN: ZFVNJL
  36. Kovshov AA, Novikova YuA, Fedorov VN, Tikhonova NA. Diseases risk assessment associated with the quality of drinking water in the urban districts of Russian arctic. Journal of Ural Medical Academic Science. 2019;16(2):215-222. doi: 10.22138/2500-0918-2019-16-2-215-222 EDN: QBLRBZ
  37. Zimovec AA. Some features of heavy metals distribution in soils of the north European territory of Russia (on example Arkhangelsk area's soils). Anthropogenic Transformation of Nature. 2010;(1):303–309.EDN: WKXDQZ
  38. Rigét F, Bignert A, Braune B, et al. Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants in Arctic marine and freshwater biota. Sci. Total Environ. 2019;649:99-110. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.268.
  39. Avtsyn AP, Zhavoronkov AA, Marachev AG, Milovanov AP. Human pathology in the North. M, 1985. (In Russ.)
  40. Korchin VI, Korchina TYa, Ternikova EM, et al. Influence of climatic and geographical factors of the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug on the health of its population (Review). Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2021;9(1):77–88. doi: 10.37482/2687-1491-Z046 EDN: JFHWCN
  41. Khan F, Momtaz S, Abdollahi M. The relationship between mercury exposure and epigenetic alterations regarding human health, risk assessment and diagnostic strategies. J.Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 2019;(52):37-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.11.006
  42. World Health Organization [Internet]. Mercury and health (Fact sheet No. 361). Geneva: WHO; 2013. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs361/en/
  43. Filimonenko E, Vatutin G, Zherebyatyeva N, et al. Wildfire effects on mercury fate in soils of North-Western Siberia. Sci. Total Environ. 2024;951:175572. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175572 EDN: PTGBOD
  44. Nemova NN, Lysenko LA, Meshcheryakova OV, Komov VT. Mercury in fish: biochemical indication. «Biosphera». 2014;6(2):176-186. (In Russ.) doi: 10.24855/biosfera.v6i2.215 EDN: SHJZCX
  45. Sheehan MC, Burke TA, Navas-Acien A, et al. Global methylmercury exposure from seafood consumption and risk of developmental neurotoxicity: a systematic review. Bull. W.H.O. 2014;92(4):254-269F. doi: 10.2471/BLT.12.116152 EDN: WOPURB
  46. Bechshoft T, Derocher AE, Richardson E, et al. Mercury and cortisol in Western Hudson Bay polar bear hair. Ecotoxicology. 2015;24(6):1315–1321. doi: 10.1007/s10646-015-1506-9 EDN: BZXFZN
  47. Bjørklund G, Chirumbolo S, Dadar M, et al. Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 2019;125(4):317-327. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.13264 EDN: JEXIJQ
  48. Korchina TYa. Correlation between concentration Hg, Pb and Cd in adult native inhabitant' hair of Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous region and concentration the same chemical elements in native products. RUDN Journal of Ecology and Life Safety. 2008;(4):62-69. EDN: JUCKAN
  49. Koutsenogii KP, Savchenko TI, Chankina OV, et al. Elemental composition of blood and hair of the native inhabitants of the North of Russia with different biogeochemical environments. Chemistry for Sustainable Development. 2010;18(1):51-61. EDN: KZSKWT
  50. Gorbachev AL. Mercury as a most important environmental pollutant: the body levels of mercury and other toxic chemical elements in indigenous residents of North-East Russia. Trace elements in medicine. 2016;17(2):3–9. doi: 10.19112/2413-6174-2016-17-2-3-9 EDN: WBERVT
  51. Rusetskaya NYu, Borodulin VB. Biological activity of organoselenium compounds in heavy metal intoxication. Biochem. Moscow Suppl. Ser. B. 2015;(1):45-57. doi: 10.1134/S1990750815010072 EDN: SEWZQR
  52. Spiller H.A. Rethinking mercury: the role of selenium in the pathophysiology of mercury toxicity. Clin. Toxicol. 2017;56(5):313–326. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1400555
  53. Dietz R, Mosbech A, Flora J, Eulaers I. Interactions of climate, socio-economics, and global mercury pollution in the North Water. Ambio. 2018;47(2):281-295. doi: 10.1007/s13280-018-1033-z EDN: DTQVZX
  54. Zorina DYu, Batsevich VA. The trace element status of indigenous population of arctic regions (the Chukchi and Eskimos) based on analysis of hair. Lomonosov Journal of Anthropology. 2011;(4):105-111. EDN: OKKHKX
  55. Gorbachev AL, Lygovaya EA. Features of the elemental status of children with autism spectrum disorder. Trace elements in medicine. 2019;20(3):20–30. doi: 10.19112/2413-6174-2019-20-3-20-30 EDN: GYOMVI
  56. Gudkov АB, Popova ОN, Lukmanova NB. Ecological-physiological characteristic of northern climatic factors. Literature review. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2012;(1):12–17. doi: 10.17816/humeco17513 EDN: OSKLRJ
  57. Khasnulin VI. Introduction to polar medicine. Novosibirsk: SB RAMS, 1998. (In Russ.) ISBN: 5-900107-10-8 EDN: RWXGVZ
  58. Kozlov AI, Kozlova MA, Vershubskaya GG, Shilov AB. Health of the indigenous population of the Russian North: on the edge of centuries and cultures: monograph. Belavin AM, editor. Perm: OT i DO, 2013. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-4357-0052-6 EDN: RZYUZX
  59. Tchantchaeva EA. To the issue of the adequacy of nutrition of Siberian aboriginal population. Literature rewiev. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2010;(3):31–34. EDN: KZVBCF
  60. Istomin AV, Fedina IN, Shkurikhina SV, Kutakova NS. Nutrition and the north: hygienic problems of the Arctic zone of Russia (Literature review). Hygiene and Sanitation. 2018;97(6):557-563. doi: 10.18821/0016-9900-2018-97-6-557-563 EDN: XVLSPZ
  61. Nikiforova NA, Karapetyan TA, Dorshakova NV. Feeding habits of the Northerners (Literature Review). Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2018;25(11):20-25. doi: 10.33396/1728-0869-2018-11-20-25 EDN: YNWBUL
  62. Nikitin YP, Khasnulin VI, Gudkov AB. Performance academy polar medicine and extreme human ecology for 1995-2015: modern problems of northern medicine and efforts of scientists to address them. Meditsina Kyrgyzstana. 2015;1(2):8–14. (In Russ.) EDN: XIFABR
  63. Kucher AN. Gene-environment interactions as the basis of health formation. Ecological genetics. 2017;15(4):19-32. doi: 10.17816/ecogen15419-32 EDN: VHGUND
  64. Andronov SV, Lobanov AA, Bichkaeva FA, et al. Traditional nutrition and demography in the arctic zone of Western Siberia. Voprosy Pitaniia. 2020;89(5):69-79. doi: 10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10067 EDN: ULIZLT
  65. Sobolev N, Aksenov A, Sorokina T, et al. Iodine and bromine in fish consumed by indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic. Sci. Rep. 2020; 25;10(1):5451. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62242-1 EDN: MHPDDB
  66. Chizhova LA, Khadyko AI. Development of aquaculture in the Northern and arctic territories: problems and solutions (on the example of the Arkhangelsk oblast). Arktika i Sever [Arctic and North] 2023;(53):135-154. doi: 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2023.53.135 EDN: HJQPUV
  67. Gorbachev AL, Lugovaya EA. Trace element profile typical for aboriginal residents of Russia’s Northeast. The Bulletin of the North-East Scientific Center. 2015;(1):86–94. EDN: TQQNRD
  68. Pokhilyuk NV, Gorbachev AL. Ethnic aspects of toxic elements in the Russian Northeast. RUDN Journal of Ecology and Life Safety.2022;30(1):58–66. doi: 10.22363/2313-2310-2022-30-1-58-66 EDN: QJPESJ
  69. Krivoshchekov SG, Okhotnikov SV. Industrial migrations and human health in the North. Novosibirsk: SB RAMS, 2000. (In Russ.) EDN: RFCYXN
  70. Sevostyanova YeV. Some features of human lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the North (Literature Review). Bulletin of Siberian Medicine. 2013;12(1):93-100. doi: 10.20538/1682-0363-2013-1- EDN: QABARP
  71. Stroev YuI, Churilov LP. The heaviest element of life (On the 200th anniversary of the discovery of iodine). «Biosphera». 2012;4(3):313–342. (In Russ.) EDN: PCXGNZ
  72. Troshina EA. Elimination of iodine deficiency is a concern for the health of the nation. An excursion into the history, scientific aspects and the current state of the legal regulation of the problem in Russia. Problems of Endocrinology. 2022;68(4):4-12. doi: 10.14341/probl13154 EDN: GAKKBM
  73. Guidance on the monitoring of salt iodization programmes and determination of population iodine status: Russian language version. Clinical and experimental thyroidology. 2018;14(2):100-112. doi: 10.14341/ket9734 EDN: XWQWUH
  74. Kovalski VV. Geochemical ecology of endemic goiter. Geochemical ecology. Moscow: Nauka, 1974. 214-229. (In Russ.)
  75. Malov AI, editor. Research and utilization of groundwater in the European North. Proceedings of the International Conference "Ecology of the Northern Territories of Russia: Problems, Forecasts, Situations, Development Paths, Solutions; 2002 June 17–22; Arkhangelsk, Russia. Arkhangelsk: Institute of Environmental Problems of the North; 2002. (In Russ.) ISBN: 5-85879-017-8 EDN: YRCKEC

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download

Copyright (c) 2025 Eco-Vector

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77 - 78166 от 20.03.2020.