This review covers publications with their focus on analyzing methodological approaches to assessing health risks that might occur due to implementation and development of 5G communication networks. Publications were sought in such databases as Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, Global Health, and Russian Science Citation Index. Results obtained by examining exposure to electromagnetic radiofrequency radiation in animal studies have revealed carcinogenic effects in some cases. However, population studies involving large samples of humans who are active mobile communication users have not established any significant effects that may cause health impairments. At the same time, some peculiar features of the 5G technology should be considered including extremely high network density, new scenarios of locating base stations, multiplicity of 5G-devices, networks relying on multiple different ranges (including use of decimeter-, centimeter- and millimeter-long waves). All this, together with use of signals having a great range width and new modulation types with their biological effects still remaining unknown, makes it possible to assume that an electromagnetic background in residential areas will undergo significant transformation involving growing intensity of modulated wideband electromagnetic radiation with a complex spectral structure. Conducted social surveys confirm people’s concerns about health effects produced by 5G technologies. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop new methodological approaches to accomplishing investigations aimed at assessing health risks associated with implementation of such networks. This research work should consider technological peculiarities of 5G networks; results of such studies should give grounds for developing new safe standards and implementing relevant activities aimed at providing electromagnetic safety of the country population.

The study relevance is associated with remote negative effects produced by diving on health and related to high fatality rates. Research on cardiovascular risk assessment (CVRA) in divers is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of some novel biomarkers versus an established cardiovascular risk estimator in CVRA among professional divers. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 50 professional divers and an equal number of marine seafarers. Participants were clinically evaluated and subjected to electrocardiography (ECG), basic biochemical analyses, and assessment of some trace metals and oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBMs). Optimal, 10 years, and lifetime CVR was assessed by the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk estimator. A predictive model for CVR among professional divers was built by testing the performance of some novel biomarkers versus the ASCVD risk estimator. According to our findings, the professional divers and seafarers showed increased 10 years and lifetime CVD risk compared to the optimal, although the divers were at a higher risk and showed noticeable electrophysiological changes. A proposed model comprising significant CVR predictors and elements of the ASCVD risk estimator improved its performance in CVRA. Corrected QT wave interval was accurate in CVD risk definition and stratification in divers and seafarers (AUC (95 % C.I.) = 0.692 (0.584–0.800), sensitivity = 60.0 %, specificity = 84.0 %, PPV = 78.9, NPV = 67.7, p < 0.001). Therefore, the CVD risk in divers is quite high and including CVRA in their periodic examinations is crucial. Adding selected biomarkers, particularly ECG changes and some OSBMs with elements of the ASCVD risk estimator improves its accuracy in CVRA.

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens worldwide. Co-infection with multiple STI pathogens increases the risk of complications and the spread of infections necessitating research of risk factors for effective prevention and control. We analyzed 1,201 medical histories of patients who sought treatment at a specialized dermatovenereological center between 2005 and 2022. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent influence of each analyzed factor. Co-infection with multiple pathogens was detected in 7.8 % of patients, more frequently among women (68.1 %) and indi-viduals aged 18–29 years (71.3 %). The main co-infections in patients with urogenital chlamydial infection were anogenital (venereal) warts (80.9 %), anogenital herpes infection (20.2 %), and gonococcal infection (14.8 %). Logistic analysis revealed that the likelihood of co-infection was higher among women (OR = 4.84), minors (OR = 3.26), individuals aged 18–29 years (OR = 1.97), those with regular sexual activity (OR = 1.56), and those not in a marital relationship (OR = 2.72). This study identified factors associated with co-infection with multiple STI pathogens in patients with chlamydial infection, including female sex, age 18–29 years, being unmarried, and having regular sexual activity. The results emphasize the need for early screening for chlamydial infection and other STIs, as well as preventive measures for high-risk groups.

A repeated cross-sectional assessment was conducted over three consecutive years to identify trends in anthropometric indices and nutritional status among preschool children in the Hung Ha district of Thai Binh province, Vietnam. From 2021 to 2023, data were collected for three distinct samples with a total of 1002 children aged 24–72 months. For children younger than 60 months, the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 criteria were used to determine the weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), BMI-for-age Z-score (BAZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ). For children older than 60 age months, the 2007 WHO criteria were used to assess WAZ, HAZ, and BAZ. Significant improvements in weight, height, BMI, and anthropometric Z-scores were observed over the three-year period. While the rates of underweight and stunting declined, the prevalence of overweight and obesity rose significantly, indicating a double burden of malnutrition. This trend appears to originate from socioeconomic changes, increased caloric intake, and reduced physical activity. The study underscores the need for comprehensive nutritional strategies to address both malnutrition forms, focusing on improving height for balanced and healthy growth among preschool children in rural areas of the Red River Delta.

For a comprehensive assessment of schoolchildren’s diets, a methodology was developed using the diet quality index (DQI) based on data on frequency of food consumption. The aim of this work is to develop a method for comprehensive assessment of schoolchildren’s diets, to test it using data on frequency of food consumption and to investigate the relationship between DQI and various characteristics of the surveyed. The method was developed using a database of diet monitoring data for students of secondary schools obtained by Rospotrebnadzor in 2023 within implementation of the Population Health Protection Federal Project of the Demography National Project in 2023 in 85 subjects of the Russian Federation. Data on frequency of food consumption were used to develop and test the method. Statistical data analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0, USA. To assess the statistical significance of differences between the groups, parametric methods of variance analysis were used: Student's t-test and ANOVA. Based on data on frequency of food consumption, a method has been developed for comprehensive assessment of schoolchildren’s diets using DQI. Nineteen groups of food products were selected: 9 groups of foods that are most important for formation of a healthy diet and 10 groups of foods with an excess content of critically important nutrients, consumption of which should be limited. DQI below the average value (below 42.8 points) was detected in 52 % of schoolchildren. Almost half of the children (48.8 %) had DQI within the range of 35–50 points. In 27.5 % of children, DQI of less than 35 points was detected. The stud also included analysis of relationships between DQI established for schoolchildren and sex, age and other socio-demographic characteristics. The developed DQI makes it possible to quickly conduct comprehensive assessment of diet quality and can be used to analyze effectiveness of implemented measures aimed at NCDs prevention.

At present, multiple studies report that healthcare workers (HCWs) are a specific occupational category exposed to various infections due to contacts with bloodborne pathogens in blood and other body fluids. Healthcare provision involves risks of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) and other bloodborne pathogens for healthcare workers due to injuries with sharp objects through damaged skin or mucous membranes. Literature data indicate that HCWs can get infected with bloodborne pathogens due to influence of several risk factors (peculiarities of a pathogen, its prevalence in a given population and among patients, intensity and duration of a contact with a pathogen). Risks of infection are associated with a division profile, work records, and some other factors. According to published data, the number of actual needlestick injuries and injuries caused by other sharp objects among HCWs prevails over the number of registered injuries and accounts for 22–82 % depending on a country, rules, and methodology applied for identifying the injury rate. Research works aimed at investigating hemocontact risks have established that underestimation of such data influences effectiveness and timeliness of implemented prevention activities. Risks of getting infected with hemocontact infections can grow substantially in case healthcare workers fail to follow personal protective measures or algorithms of relevant post-contact prevention. Observations of post-contact behaviors adopted by healthcare workers have revealed that 3.3–30 % of them either do not use any post-contact practices or do not always follow the relevant procedure of conducting them. Optimization of activities aimed at identifying and preventing risks of hemocontact infections among healthcare workers will prevent occupational pathology in this contingent.

The aim of the study was to identify the features of changes in the content of neuroantibodies reflecting the risk of developing autoimmune processes in patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), complicated and uncomplicated arterial hyperten-sion (AH). A retrospective study was conducted in a sample of men aged 40 to 60 years with a diagnosed hand-arm vibration syn-drome caused by local vibration and in a group comparable per sex and age, including people who worked in conditions that excluded contact with occupational physical factors. Groups of patients with HAVS, complicated and uncomplicated AH have been identified. The levels of autoantibodies to specialized structures of nervous tissue and neurotransmitters were determined in all the examined participants using the ELI-N-Test ("Immunculus", Moscow). The study revealed an increase in the levels of neuronal AT (MBP, S-100, GFAP, NF-200, V-Ca-channel, Glu-R, DA-R, M-OR, B-end) in patients with HAVS, both burdened and uncomplicated hypertension, relative to the comparison group. At the same time, the levels of AT to the opiate M-OR receptors in people with HAVS who were not burdened with hypertension were statistically significantly higher than in patients with comorbid pathology (p = 0.04). Discriminant analysis showed that individuals with HAVS burdened with hypertension were characterized by a decrease in the levels of AT to gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (F = 8.5, p = 0.001) and to the myelin basic protein (F = 13.7, p = 0.001) in comparison with patients with HAVS without hypertension. The neuron-neuron interaction disorder in patients with AH was manifested by a mismatch of correlations between the levels of autoantibodies to S-100 protein and myelin basic protein (R = 0.29, p > 0.05), voltage-dependent Ca-channel (R = 0.41, p > 0.05), dopamine receptors (R = 0.42, p > 0.05), serotonin (R = 0.33, p > 0.05) and opiates (R = 0.32, p > 0.05). Thus, increased levels of neuronal AT (MBP, S-100, GFAP, NF-200, V- Ca-channel, Glu-R, DA-R, M-OR, B-end) in patients with HAVS, both burdened and uncomplicated hypertension, are markers reflecting the risk of developing autoimmune processes upon exposure to vibration. The reported lower levels of AT to the GABA receptor and the myelin basic protein in patients with HAVS burdened with hypertension, when compared with those with HAVS without hypertension, are apparently due to the peculiarities of the clinical course of the disease and the formation of immune tolerance to these proteins. The obtained results can be used in carrying out diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic measures for people with HAVS, including in the presence of comorbid pathology.

There are no lists of chemicals with mutagenic effects in the Russian Federation and in the states of the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore, within the framework of the program ‘Development of integrated approaches to testing, assessing hazards and risk of exposure to chemicals for human health and improvement of the evidence base of toxicological research results’ (deadlines: 2024–2025), the Russian Register of Potentially Hazardous Chemical and Biological Substances – Branch of F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene of the Rospotrebnadzor has completed several work tasks concerning selection of substances with mutagenic effects, assessment and classification of their hazard. Data available in international legislation, documents issued by the United Nations structures, scientific articles, monographs, and official national and foreign databases were analyzed in order to identify candidate substances with genotoxic/mutagenic effects and to form their toxicological profiles to assess the degree of hazard. Classifications of potential mutagens were based on the principles stated in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and Mixtures. Selection of substances, assessment and classification of hazards is a complex process that requires in-depth analysis of the entire set of obtained data. An approach based on the principles of a step-by-step comprehensive assessment and classification of hazards posed by chemicals with mutagenic effects made it possible to scientifically substantiate and form a national list of mutagens. This list was employed as the basis for a number of normative and methodological documents, including Methodological Recommendations ‘Assessment and Classification of the Hazard of Mutagens’, appendices to the Procedure for creating and maintaining a register of chemicals and mixtures of the Eurasian Economic Union Technical Regulations ‘On Safety of Chemical Products’ (TR EAEU 041/2017), as well as the draft national Technical regulation ‘On safety of chemical products’. The official status of the mutagen list will contribute not only to making relevant management decisions but also to resolving disputes arising between the business community and regulatory authorities due to differences in interpretation of research results.

Air transport is a globally recognized source of environmental noise. Health risk assessment is considered an eligible instrument of information support provided for urban development and / or sanitary-hygienic decisions in airport areas. A research object was an airport area within the boundaries of the seventh zone of an airport with average annual passenger flow of approximately 1.7–2 million people. Noise levels were simulated in an average annual flight day with the highest intensity. Health risk assessment was performed by using evolution modeling. Epidemiological studies were based on geocoded depersonalized data about visits to healthcare organizations by: people who permanently lived in the analyzed airport area (244.2 thousand people) and those unexposed to airport noise (the reference group made of 51.1 thousand people). All persons in the selected population were coved. Three zones were determined within the airport area with their boundaries represented by a daily equivalent averaged noise contour LAday with 5 dBA step. Noise level LAday was equal to 55–60 dBA and higher as calculated per upper limits of the analyzed ranges; it was shown to create impermissible health risks. A growth in exposure level leads to a shorter period, during which a health risk moves to a higher category. Epidemiological studies gave evidence that health risk assessment based on evolution modeling described the situation correctly. In the zones with calculated moderate health risks, exposed children had certain disorders more frequently against the reference group (unexposed) including symptoms and signs involving emotional state (OR = 2.03; CI: 1.27–2.23); disorders of autonomic nervous system (OR = 1.34; CI: 1.05–1.75); malaise and fatigue (OR = 4.48; CI: 1.17–20.1) and some others. Adults who lived in this zone had more frequent hypertension (OR = 1.55; CI: 1.19–2.03) and elevated blood pressure (OR = 1.51; CI: 1.2–1.9). In the zones with high health risks, apart from the foregoing diseases, adults also more frequently had essential (primary) hypertension (OR = 1.13; CI: 1.05–1.22) and angina pectoris (OR = 1.21; CI: 1.16–1.25). In the zones with very high health risks, apart from the foregoing diseases, noise exposures were authentically associated with secondary hypertension (OR = 1.8; CI: 1.12–2.86) and strokes (OR = 1.29; CI: 1.08–1.52) among adults. Use of land spots for residential construction and construction of cultural and public facilities within an airport area requires taking specific measures aimed at noise reduction. If necessary, medical and preventive programs should be implemented to protect people from harmful exposure to environmental noise.

Wide implementation of nanomaterials in various economic activities and associated contamination of environmental objects create health risks for workers and general population. Nanoparticles have physiochemical properties that are different from their micro-sized analogues, which may cause more pronounced negative effects upon intake. In this regard, assessment of safety of nanoindustry products is an urgent hygienic problem and the basis for developing recommendations aimed at minimizing health risks. The aim of the study was to assess potential hazards of a nanomaterial for human health using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as an example. Potential hazard of ZnO NPs was assessed using a set of indicators based on implementation of the predictive-analytical procedure in accordance with MR 1.2.2522-09. The analysis of ZnO NPs properties indicates that they belong to nano-sized particles (from 6 to 100 nanometers). During cell membrane penetration, ZnO NPs were shown to stimulate greater production of free radicals that cause damage to supramolecular structures. They transform proteomic profile and metabolic reactions changing the expression of proteins that regulate the integrity of cytoskeleton, nuclear matrix and apoptotic process, which leads to cell death. Cellular and molecular changes are manifested through morphofunctional tissue impairments in tissues organs where ZnO NPs bioaccumulate (the liver, kidneys and lungs). Negative effects are manifested as redox imbalance, cytolysis, impaired filtration processes, weaker cellular immunity and, as a consequence, developing inflammatory, dystrophic and necrotic processes. Implementation of the predictive-analytical procedure showed that ZnO NPs are potentially highly hazardous for human health (according to the hazard coefficient D = 2.102). High potential hazard for human health indicates that it is necessary to investigate remote and specific effects of ZnO NPs in order to perform complete hygienic assessment of their safe levels. This will allow achieving more effective development of preventive measures aimed at minimizing health risks caused by ZnO NPs for workers and general population.