Relevance. 35 years after the Chernobyl NPP accident, 1.974 settlements remain in the radioactively contaminated areas of the Russian Federation (above 37 kBq/m² for ¹³⁷Cs). 90.9 % of these settlements are located in four regions: Bryansk, Kaluga, Tula, Orel. In 137 settlements located in the southwestern districts of the Bryansk region, the average annual exposure doses of residents exceed 1 mSv. This requires measures for their further recovery and return to normal life without radiation-related restrictions.
Intention. Generalize data on changes in the radiation and socio-economic situation in radioactively contaminated territories as a result of the Chernobyl accident over the past five years and analyze the remaining problems of returning the population to normal living conditions and economic activities.
Methodology. Results of monitoring of the Chernobyl accident affected territories performed by departmental scientific organizations of Emercom, the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet), Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Forestry Agency (Rosleskhoz) were retrospectively analyzed.
Results and Discussion. In 98.5 % of settlements with average annual exposure doses above 1 mSv, the internal exposure prevails, mainly due to radionuclides from natural food. Weighted average ¹³⁷Cs contamination density in the southwestern districts of the Bryansk region decreases as follows: forests > agricultural lands > settlements. Deterioration of demographic indicators in the most radioactively contaminated districts was noted.
Conclusion. The need is shown for an integrated approach to return radioactively contaminated territories back to normal via ensuring both the radiation safety of the population and improving the socio-economic conditions in the regions affected by the Chernobyl accident.

Relevance. The relevance of the study is due to the risk of developing large-scale radiation accidents with a large number of victims, who will need primary medical triage and early prediction of the severity of injury for correct routing from the source of sanitary losses.
Intention. Validation of the method of estimating dose by time-to-emesis under various exposure conditions for pre-hospital triage of victims.
Methodology. The object of the study is the data from State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency (Moscow) database of acute radiation injuries.
Results and Discussion: We have analyzed individual data for the victims of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster (114 persons) with a separate analysis of the irradiation conditions (short-term exposure for less than 20 minutes and prolonged exposure in selected groups), as well as the data from victims of other radiation accidents in the former USSR (26 persons) and 8 patients with total body radiotherapy without the use of antiemetics. It was shown that for the equal time-to-emesis intervals, predicted radiation injury is more severe in case of prolonged exposure vs short-term exposure. This may be due to varying rate of dose accumulation and so-called “unnecessary dose” effect – when the biological mechanism of vomiting has already been triggered against ongoing exposure. Results are presented as interval estimates of radiation injury severity by time-to-emesis for both short-term and prolonged exposures. We also have formulated two criteria for primary triage purposes in case of moderate or large numbers of victims due to large-scale radiation accidents.
Conclusion. Recommendations for pre-hospital triage of victims are proposed.

Relevance. Both Russian and foreign researchers pay attention to the mental disorders in people with a history of accidental radiation exposure. A wide range of mental pathologies have been observed among the Chernobyl NPP clean-up workers, victims of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, etc.
Intention – To assess primary incidence of mental disorders and behavioral disorders in residents of the municipal areas of the Chelyabinsk region affected by radioactive contamination.
Methodology. Primary incidence rates of mental disorders and behavioral disorders (F00–09, F20–99 ICD-10) were assessed for the period from 2005 to 2018 in residents of municipal areas of the Chelyabinsk regions (Kunashaksky, Krasnoarmeysky, Argayashsky, Kaslinsky, Sosnovsky districts) affected by radioactive contamination in 1949–1951 and 1957 as a result of the activities of the “Mayak” production association. These data were compared to that from non-contaminated Etkulsky district with similar population and economic activity. Mental disorders were classified according to the groups of the chapter V “Mental and behavioral disorders” of the International Classification of Diseases of the 10th revision (ICD-10). Incidence was calculated per 10 thousand population (0/000). Descriptive analysis of the registered primary incidence of mental disorders in residents of these districts of the Chelyabinsk region is presented.
Results and discussion. The primary incidence rate of mental disorders in the Chelyabinsk region (49.1 ± 3.6) 0/000 significantly (p < 0.001) exceeds those in the Sverdlovsk (30.3 ± 4.2), Kurgan (30.2 ± 6.9) 0/000 regions and overall estimates for the Russian Federation (32.9 ± 3.8) 0/000 . In the remote period, primary incidence rates of mental disorders in the residents of some radioactively contaminated districts were higher vs Etkulsky district, but significantly lower than overall rates in the Chelyabinsk region (p < 0.001). Taking into account the territorial distribution of the exposed residents and their offspring in the Chelyabinsk region, mental retardation in residents of the Kunashak district should be closely monitored.
Conclusion. Mental morbidity in areas accidentally contaminated more than 70 years ago now reflects the general trend of deterioration in the mental health of the population of the Chelyabinsk region. It can be assumed that the incidence of mental disorders in the population of the Chelyabinsk region is determined by a constellation of interacting factors (socio-economic, personal-psychological, radiation, informational and others), among which socially determined mechanisms of the mental pathology prevail.

Relevance. Road traffic accidents are a source of significant medical, demographic, social and economic losses. To reduce the volume of medical and sanitary consequences of road accidents, to achieve the targets of the national project “Safe and High-Quality Roads”, it is necessary to further improve the technologies for providing medical care to victims of road accidents at all stages, including their adaptation to the regional characteristics of road traffic traumatism, and the mechanism of interaction between medical organizations performing the functions of trauma centers. This task can be solved provided that a system of information exchange between trauma centers is created, as well as the organization of monitoring of health consequences in road accidents on its basis. To accumulate and analyze information, a polynosological register, a type of distributed database, is to be used.
Intention – to substantiate the expediency to organize monitoring of the health consequences of road traffic accidents.
Methodology. Regulatory documents were reviewed as well as results of Russian and foreign scientific research of organizational approaches to the provision of specialized medical care to victims of road accidents at the hospital stage, and also algorithms of introducing information technologies into the activities of medical organizations. The search for sources was performed in specialized scientific search systems (eLibrary, National Library of Medicine – PubMed, Scopus etc.).
Results and Discussion. The organization of monitoring of the medical and social consequences of road traffic accidents at the level of the territories of the Russian Federation has been substantiated (including its purpose, tasks, coordinators and implementers). The directions of using the monitoring results were determined.
Conclusion. Monitoring of medical and social consequences of road traffic accidents will provide a reliable assessment of their scope in the regions of the country. Besides, health authorities will get reliable information to develop effective measures for reducing medical, demographic, social and economic losses associated with road traffic accidents.

Relevance. Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) should be improved and regularly adjusted based on continuous analysis of hazards and current risks.
Intention. Development of approaches to determining the permissible level of risks to the personnel of the Federal Fire Service (FPS) of the EMERCOM of Russia when performing occupational duties.
Methodology. Cases of injuries were analyzed in the staff of the FPS when performing occupational duties. Relative frequencies of injuries were calculated in the personnel of the FPS as follows: light damage (the number of days of temporary disability ≤ 3), moderate damage (the number of days of temporary disability from 4 to 30) and severe damage (the number of days of temporary disability more than 30, the onset of disability or death). Associations between injuries in the personnel of the FPS and the complexity of fires were assessed, including amount of the fire extinguishers used.
Results and Discussion. It is proposed to allocate two levels of acceptable risk of injury for the personnel of the FPS when performing official duties: the maximum risk and acceptable risk. Estimates of acceptable and maximum risks of injury to personnel of the FPS were obtained using the relative index of the frequency of injuries to personnel: acceptable risk estimates R _acceptable = (5 ± 1) • 10^–5 and maximum risk estimates R_maximum = (4,4 ± 0,3) • 10^–4. It is proposed to use the values of acceptable risks of personal injury adjusted for the complexity of fires extinguished to assess the effectiveness of the OSHMS in fire protection units. Options for decision-making in the framework of the Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems, depending on the actual level of injury to personnel in the performance of official duties, are considered.
Conclusion. The proposed model for assessing the effectiveness of the OSHMS is based on the planning of OSHMS activities depending on the degree of implementation of the OSHMS procedures and the risk of injury to the personnel of the FPS of EMERCOM of Russia in the performance of official activities.

Relevance. Combat missions imply high requirements for assessing mental health in military personnel. Among these requirements is the need to include functional assessment taking into account ontogenetic factors, compensatory and sanogenetic processes, personal and adaptive behavioral characteristics. At the same time, a number of authors note that the premorbid period of mental disorders can determine differences in the mental state during the period of manifestation of clinical symptoms.
Intention. To investigate the relationship between the parameters of the functional state and the characteristics of the premorbid period of neurotic disorders in military personnel.
Methodology. The study involved 78 male servicemen (average age 21.6 ± 2.6 years) with neurotic mental disorders. We studied information about the premorbid period, parameters of mental health functional assessment (bioelectric activity of the brain, cognitive functioning, behavioral characteristics, the global assessment of functioning).
Results and Discussion. There were found statistically significant (p < 0.05) weak correlations between the number of adverse factors in the premorbid period and such indicators of the functional state as the severity of electroencephalographic disorders (r = 0.365); maladaptive behavior (r = 0.287), and statistically significant moderate correlation (r = –0.531) with the level of global functioning during the period of the greatest severity of neurotic symptoms.
Conclusion. The data obtained in the study will make it possible to improve the forecast of the restoration of the working capacity of servicemen who have suffered from neurotic disorders, as well as the system of professional selection of applicants entering higher military educational institutions.

Relevance. Among the many problems to be solved for ensuring the safety of the population, safety in overcrowded facilities in emergency situations (ES) is of great importance; here, self-rescuers – portable personal respiratory protection equipment (RPE), can help.
Intention: To analyze organizational problems associated with the use of civilian self-rescuers, including self-rescuers for children.
Methodology. We studied arrays of domestic publications in the Russian Science Citation Index, patents for inventions and utility models of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property of Rospatent, catalogs of RPEs from manufacturing companies.
Results and Discussion. Modern domestic filtering civilian self-rescuers, including self-rescuers for children are described. Analysis of the protective properties of domestic self-rescuers shows that they can differ significantly from each other, and sometimes have different purposes. It is necessary to develop and introduce cheaper small self-rescuers for easy use in emergencies. A number of general requirements can be imposed on self-rescuers for children: these should be relatively universal and provide protection from the main possible emergencies; ensure the greatest efficiency in protecting the respiratory system from toxic vapors / gases, highly dispersed and finely dispersed aerosols; be lightweight, small and easily accessible.
Conclusion. A number of the problems considered in the article are of a complex nature, even in the sphere of responsibility of the EMERCOM of Russia; therefore, their solution is possible only with an appropriate attitude towards them.

Relevance. When working in hazardous conditions, eliminating accidents, fires and emergencies, personal respiratory protective equipment (RPE) helps optimize working capacity and preserve the health of workers and the population. The use of RPE is especially important in epidemics spreading by airborne droplets, i.e. in the pandemic of the coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2.
Intention. To analyze the development of patenting and types of inventions in the field of RPE in the world over 20 years from 2000 to 2019.
Methodology. The object of the research was patents for inventions, in which headings included the types of respirators and gas masks according to the International Patent Classification (IPC). It should be noted that this classification is somewhat different from that adopted in Russia. Clarivate Analytics’ Derwent Innovations patent database was searched.
Results and Discussion. The created search mode made it possible to find 5006 responses to patents for inventions, in which IPC headings were presented by types of respirators and gas masks. Annually, (250 ± 11) inventions with IPC headings by RPE type were paternted worldwide. The dynamics of patenting inventions resembles an inverted U-curve with maximum rates in 2014–2015 and some decrease in the last observation period. The largest contribution to the total array of inventions by RPE type was made by patent families affiliated with the United States (43.9 %), South Korea (22 %), Japan (21.2 %), China (19 %) and the European Patent Office (18.7 %). The structure of the analyzed inventions in the world included RPEs with compressed oxygen or air (7.5 %), with breathing-controlled valves dosing the supply of oxygen or air (4.4 %), with liquid oxygen (0.9 %), with oxygen-releasing chemicals (11.3 %), with filtering elements (20.6 %), hose (2.4 %), for high-altitude aircrafts (4.8%). RPE masks and RPE helmets accounted for 44.1 % and 4 %, respectively. There were regional differences in the patenting of inventions by RPE types.
Conclusion. There were quite many domestic inventions on RPE with oxygen-releasing chemicals and with filter elements; the overall contribution of patented inventions in Russia for all RPE types was 6% of the total array.

Relevance. Current operation time limits under hazardous chemical conditions (“emergency regulations”) have been developed mainly for a limited number of emergency situations occurring in spacecraft, submarines or other specific objects. At the same time, many emergencies accompanied by large-scale releases of toxic combustion products from various materials and compounds into the environment are not limited to these facilities. Therefore, risks associated with toxic effects of chemicals should be predicted, since permissible time limits with adequate performance of personnel under certain chemical exposures are used for individual protection (time-based protection).
Intention: On the basis of physiological aspects, the peculiarities of the work performed by rescuers and the requirements for organizing and conducting emergency rescue operations, to propose a methodical approach to determining the permissible time for rescuers in conditions of intermittent carbon monoxide release.
Methodology. The scientific works and results of experiments in the research area were analyzed. Systematization and generalization of empirical and theoretical data, traditional analysis of documents and publications were used with the least squares approximation.
Results and Discussion. Specific effects of various carbon monoxide concentrations are shown for different exposure times. Critical concentrations and exposure times are revealed, functional relationships between permissible time of operation and carbon monoxide concentrations are determined. Carboxyhemoglobin formation and effects were taken into account.
Conclusion. The data given in the article are an important basis for organizing and conducting emergency rescue operations at increased concentrations of carbon monoxide.

Relevance. Metals are transported by run-off from human settlements and industrial plants and accumulate in the sediments of water bodies. Lead is found in high concentrations in the soil of agricultural land. Lead can be transported with water, seafood, animal products and plants to humans. Poisoning may occur in workers and in the population in contact with lead. At the same time, hypothyroidism is a widespread disease, often due to living in areas of endemic iodine deficiency in water and soil. Latent hypothyroidism can aggravate occupational effects of heavy metals in exposed workers.
Intention. To study behavioural and morphological changes in rats with lead poisoning aggravated by medicinal hypothyroidism.
Methodology. 32 albino outbred adult male rats were studied. Lead poisoning was induced by lead acetate at a dose of 60 mg/kg body weight in drinking water tanks for 30 days. Hypothyroidism in rats was induced from the ninth day of the experiment with daily injections of thyrozol (thyroid static substance) at a dose of 30 mg/kg for 21 days. Behavioral responses in rats were studied using open field tests, and survey records were processed using Real Timer. For morphological analysis, layered serial cuts of brain tissue were prepared and painted using the Nissl method, and slides were visualized via observation microscopy.
Results and Discussion. Under lead poisoning, animals demonstrated decreased locomotor and exploration activity and increased anxiety with increasing intoxication combined with hypothyroidism. Changes in the rat brain after exposure to lead were confirmed histologically: increased neuron degeneration, neuronophagia and glyosis. New histological data were obtained in case of lead-thyrozol combination: increased neuronal death, decreased number of astroglial cells compared to animals exposed to lead only. This suggests predominant irreversible neurodegeneration due to combined effects of lead poisoning and thyroidstatic exposure.
Conclusion. Under combined exposure to lead and tyrozol, the thyroidstatic substance exacerbated decline in locomotor and exploration activity as well as lead-associated neurodegenerative processes in the rat brain.

Relevance. The relevance is determined by the need to study quality of life over time in patients with spinal tumors during surgical treatment, as well as to study relationships between quality of life and psychological characteristics, including those responsible for adaptation to a disease, i.e. coping mechanisms (coping strategies and resources).
Intention. To study the dynamics of the main quality-of-life parameters in patients with spinal tumors in the perioperative period, as well as to assess relationships between quality-of-life parameters and the psychological mechanisms of disease-related stress coping.
Methodology. Quality-of-life parameters were studied over time (before and after surgery) in 62 patients with various spinal tumors (average age 55 years; 22 males [35.5 %]) treated at the Department of Vertebral Surgery of N.N. Blokhin National Research Center of Oncology. The relationships were studied between patients’ quality of life in the early postoperative period and their disease-related stress coping strategies and resources. The following tests were used: the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), questionnaires for studying Quality of Life in oncological disease (QLQ C-30), spine tumors (SOSG OQ), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), the Big Five Personality Test and the Purpose-in-Life Test.
Results and Discussion. 23 of 29 studied quality-of-life parameters improved statistically significantly or tended to improve in the post- vs preoperative period, including the general index of health and quality of life, physical, emotional, social and cognitive activity, as well as symptoms of somatic distress (except an increased index of neurological dysfunction). Relationships were revealed between quality-of-life parameters and all the coping-related psychodiagnostic indices (except the “Extraversion” scale). Higher quality-of-life indices positively correlated with mature personality (internality, activity, meaningful goals, seeking social support, etc.). Less mature personality and less effective coping strategies were associated with more pronounced somatic symptoms and their impact on the quality of life in patients.
Conclusion. The results of this study can help develop more targeted and individualized programs of psychological assistance and social rehabilitation for patients with spinal tumors.

Relevance. Working in extreme conditions requires from psychologists involved in the implementation of measures for emergency rescue and other urgent work, not only to change the usual working conditions, but also to work effectively to provide emergency psychological assistance (EPA) to victims. At the same time, the motives for their participation in such events are very variable, and differ not only in content, but also in the degree of expression, since not all specialists are ready for such a format of professional activity.
Intention: To study the degree of motivational readiness of psychologists to provide emergency psychological assistance to victims, as well as to identify the features of the motivational sphere that determine the participation of specialists in this type of professional activity.
Methodology. We examined 117 psychologists using a questionnaire on the self-assessment of the motivational readiness of psychologists to provide emergency psychological assistance and the assessment of the leading motives that stimulate participation in this type of professional activity. Standardized psychodiagnostic techniques were also used: “Test of life orientations” (adaptation by D.A. Leontiev), questionnaire “Motivation for success and fear of failure” (A.A. Rean), questionnaire for study motivation to achieve success and motivation to avoid failure (T. Ehlers), questionnaire “Diagnosis of the motivational structure of the individual” (V.E. Milman).
Results and Discussion. The results of the self-assessment questionnaire on the motivational readiness of psychologists to provide emergency psychological assistance showed that, in general, psychologists positively assess themselves according to this criterion (6.4 ± 2.2 out of 10 possible points). 46 % of psychologists have a high level of its formation, 36.5 % – average, 17.5 % of psychologists – low. The motivational readiness of psychologists has a 4-component structure and is made up of professional, hedonistic and emotional motives, and motives of recognition. The use of standardized psychodiagnostic methods demonstrated that motivational readiness to provide emergency psychological assistance is associated with the desire to achieve success, the idea of oneself as a strong person who has freedom of choice and independently controls the events of one’s own life, the desire for a high social status, the focus on creative activity and social utility.
Conclusion. The studied features of motivational readiness of psychologists can be used for differentiated training of psychologists to provide emergency psychological assistance, and also taken into account for selecting specialists of this profile to work in extreme conditions.