Assessment of the Body Response to Snowmelt Water Consumption in Military Personnel Serving in the Arctic Based on Blood Parameters

Abstract

Introduction: Stability of physicochemical parameters of body fluids reflects the degree of influence of environmental factors on the body. Objective: To assess the body response to snowmelt water consumption for drinking purposes in military personnel serving in the Arctic based on blood parameters. Material and methods: The study was conducted in summer 2022. We took snowmelt water samples for chemical analysis and venous samples from 51 servicemen for a complete blood count and electrolyte measurements. Results: Snowmelt testing showed that the levels of iron were 1.2–1.6, copper – 22.2, zinc – 52.1, sodium – 11.6 to 21.9, magnesium – 5.7 to 29.1, and calcium – 9.0 to 34.1 times lower than reference concentrations. Potassium levels were negligible. The length of service of the study subjects in the Arctic above the 76th parallel North was 5.7 ± 0.3 years. Blood test results showed low or lower normal values of erythrocyte count in 39.2 %, hematocrit – in 19.6 %, and mean hemoglobin – in 13.7 % of the military personnel. A high mean corpuscular volume was detected in 17.6 % of them. The proportion of stab neutrophils in the sample was 0.55 ± 0.04 % with the normal range of 1 to 6 %. The electrolyte imbalance was evidenced by high serum potassium levels in 21.6 %, a lack of ionized calcium and magnesium in 29.4 % and 17.6 %, respectively, and sodium, phosphorus, and chlorine levels at the lower limit of the normal range in 29.4 to 47.1 % of the examined. Conclusions: Snowmelt water contains low concentrations of inorganic chemicals. Its long-term daily consumption for drinking purposes leads to electrolyte imbalance in the body, such as hypotonic water overload, and is likely to affect nonspecific resistance.