Perception of Environmental, Climatic and Anthropogenic Health Risk Factors by the Urban Population of the Russian Far North

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of the study was to characterize subjective perception of environmental, climatic and anthropogenic health risk factors by indigenous and non-indigenous urban population of the Far North. Materials and methods: In summer–autumn 2019, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey (n=446) in two cities of the Russian Far North to establish the main features of public perception of environmental, climatic and anthropogenic health risk factors. Results: We established that one third of the respondents described northern climatic conditions as “severe” or “rather severe” without any marked differences in opinion between groups of respondents formed by criteria of age, sex, and nativity. The specific local features perceived as having the most adverse health effects included the polar night, atmospheric pressure and temperature fluctuations, and strong winds. A significantly more negative perception and harder adaptation to the climate of the Far North were typical of all women and non-indigenous people. They were also more persevering in self-preservation to minimize adverse health effects of the local factors and practiced compliance with daily living routines, diet control, vitamin intake, etc. Conclusions: We found that adverse climatic conditions, high levels of anthropogenic contamination in the northern urban areas, and the resulting worries about children’s health were the leading “push-out” factors of migration. Pronounced migration intentions were noted among both the locally born and bred people and the migrants. We also observed no significant differences between those groups in ranking the importance of climatic and anthropogenic factors in decision to leave.