Air Pollution and Population Health in the Russian Arctic: A Literature Review

Abstract

This literature review summarizes the evidence on the effects of air pollution on health of the population living in the Arctic Region. The available evidence suggests that the extreme climatic conditions of the Arctic affect the health of the population not only directly but also increase negative impact of air pollution on population health. An oxidative stress induces dysfunction of the vascular endothelium and membranes of epithelial cells. Synergetic effects of cold and air pollution accelerate aging of the human body in high latitudes affecting to the greatest extent the incidence of diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems. This warrants development of special methods and tools for monitoring the state of the main target organs of such exposure for early detection of their dysfunction. These tools should be suitable for use in examining large groups of people working in the Arctic. Development of rehabilitation and treatment methods adapted to the conditions of the Arctic is also warranted.

Snow contamination by heavy metals and metalloids in a polar town (a case study of Nadym, Russia)

“…Pollution poses a great danger to public health. Synergetic effects of cold and air pollution accelerate the aging of the human body in high latitudes affecting to the greatest extent the incidence of diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems (Saltykova et al 2020). Biological effects arising from exposure to heavy metals in the Arctic may take many forms such as vegetation altering, metalinduced human disease, and decreased reproductive ability of wildlife (AMAP 2005).…”