Health Of Residents Research Articles

CORRIGENDUM to Impact of the Physical Environment of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities (RHCSF) on Staff and Residents: A Systematic Review of the Literature

CORRIGENDUM to Impact of the Physical Environment of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities (RHCSF) on Staff and Residents: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The impact of pension on the health behavior of elderly rural residents: evidence from China

BackgroundUnhealthy behavior is an important factor threatening the health of older rural residents in China. We examine the effects of receiving pension on elderly rural residents’ health behavior (namely conscious control of sugar, salt, and edible oil intake, as well as learning health or wellness knowledge), also including effect heterogeneity by income level and gender.MethodsUsing China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) in 2020, we used the policy rule of the China’s New Rural Pension Scheme that only those people who are over 60 years old can have access to pension as the natural experiment, and explore the causal effect of receiving pensions on the health behaviors by using regression discontinuity design method.ResultsHaving access to pension can improve the health behavior of rural elderly residents, including increasing the probability of rural residents’ conscious control of sugar (p < 0.1) and conscious control of salt intake (p < 0.1), which is still valid after a series of robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis finds that access to pensions is more likely to improve the health behavior of low-income families and male rural elderly residents.ConclusionsThe research has expanded the discussion on the correlation between the pension and the health of rural elderly residents, and the conclusion provides important policy implications for optimizing the rural elderly insurance system and leveraging pension to improve the health behavior of rural elderly residents.

Case studies of assessment of human health risks after the dam failures of the Córrego do Feijão Mine and Fundão in Brazil

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been an increase in environmental catastrophes involving mining dam failures. This study assessed the potential risks of iron ore tailings in riparian soils to human health after the worst dam collapses recorded in Brazil: from Córrego do Feijão Mine-CFM and Fundão. Chemical monitoring data from the three-year time interval since the collapses were used to estimate human risk indexes for trace elements such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, and zinc. In both case studies, the adult group indicated a propensity for the development of non-carcinogenic diseases through ingestion, inhalation and dermal pathways for all contaminated areas. Overall, children showed an exacerbated sensitivity to possible cancerous and non-cancerous effects, especially in the areas surrounding the dams and in Barra Longa, São José do Goiabal, Córrego Novo, Veneza, Periquito, Governador Valadares, Tumiritinga, Conselheiro Pena, Honório Fraga and Linhares (from the Fundão dam) and in all study areas from the CFM dam. These assessments demonstrate that in regions with mining activities, the cumulative effects of trace elements over time are harmful and expected. Therefore, there is a need for greater supervision by competent government bodies of conservation practices that enable environmental recovery or mitigation of their impacts, ensuring appropriate health and well-being conditions for local residents and workers.

Healing properties of residential balcony: Assessment of the characteristics of balcony space in Shanghai's collective housing

The balcony is open, connected with the outside, and close to nature, which can provide sunshine, air, vision, leisure, and social functions, bring a variety of health benefits, and gradually become a healing space in modern family life. However, current research lacks a systematic knowledge of the healing properties of balcony space features. The purpose of this paper is to determine the healing performance of balcony space characteristics of urban collective housing and its correlation with healing and to provide a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of residential balconies. Firstly, based on the literature review, the main spatial characteristics of a balcony and its healing index are determined. Then, based on the review results, a spatial assessment and analysis framework for a residential floor plan is developed. A combined qualitative and quantitative approach was used to assess the healing of balcony space characteristics of 1641 housing types in Shanghai. The results show that the healing of the balcony is at a low level, which has great potential for improvement. The spatial characteristics that affect the healing assessment mainly include structural type, connection mode, area, vision, and furniture. It was found that the spatial characteristics of balconies have interrelated and interacting role relationships that directly or indirectly affect the healing performance of balconies. This study provides a valuable reference for the renovation and design of residential balconies, helps to provide targeted design suggestions for real estate development departments and designers, and helps to improve the quality of living and the health and well-being of residents.

Factors associated with suicidal ideation among medical residents in Tehran during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicentric cross-sectional survey.

The mental health of medical residents, challenged by their intensive training, is of utmost concern. In light of reported suicides among Iranian medical residents in 2021, this study investigates the factors behind suicidal ideation among medical residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tehran. This study conducted a cross-sectional online survey among medical residents in various specialties in Tehran, Iran, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI), while depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the DASS-21. It also collected demographic and clinical data from the participants. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and multiple linear regression to examine the prevalence and determinants of suicidal ideation among medical residents. The study enrolled 353 medical residents and found that 34.3% of them had suicidal ideation, with 10.2% indicating a high risk. The study also found high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among the participants. The variables that significantly predicted suicidal ideation were depression, history of alcohol/substance use, personal history of suicide attempts, history of self-mutilation, family history of suicide attempts, number of shifts in a month, death of close persons because of COVID-19, and income. Depression was the strongest predictor of suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the urgent need for effective interventions and support systems to address the mental health needs of medical residents in Iran. The strategies should prioritize destigmatizing mental health, promoting access to mental health services, fostering a supportive training environment, and enhancing income opportunities.

The efficiency assessment of short-term maximum flood level forecast methodology in the upper and middle course of the Tsna river

A significant rise in water levels in the rivers during the spring flood and the release of rivers to the floodplain is the main danger in this period for nearby territories and people living there. This phenomenon can lead to flooding of large areas, significant economic losses, environmental damage, and threaten the health and life of local residents. Such negative consequences of high floods are typical for the Tambov region rivers, which indicates the need to develop an effective system for forecasting and preventing maximum flood levels. The climatic changes that have taken place over the past few decades, which are also reflected in the rivers’ water regime, show the need to modernize existing forecasting methodologies. In this paper, the authors have demonstrated the results of the effectiveness assessment of the existing methodology for short-term forecasting of the maximum flood level on the Tsna River at two gauging stations (“Kuzmino-Gat” and “Tambov”). Calculations were made using modern data in accordance with this methodology and a comparative analysis was carried out with the calculations of previous years. Based on this analysis, an assessment of the flood levels forecast methodology accuracy was given. According to the study results, it was found that the existing methodology for short-term forecasting of the maximum flood level on the Tsna River is largely ineffective nowadays with regard to modern conditions of spring flood runoff formation. In the analysis of the Kuzmino-Gat gauging station, the values of the maximum flood levels obtained by the reanalysis method according to the tested methodology using modern data showed significant deviations from the actual observed values. At the same time, for the operational forecast of maximum water levels at the Tambov gauging station, it is possible to use the correlation dependence with the observed water levels at the Kuzmino-Gat gauging station, as before. The correlation coefficient with modern data was 0.96. The authors have highlighted the main drawbacks of the existing methodology and made suggestions for improvement, in particular, what factors need to be analyzed in order to clarify the forecast.

Association of Church-House Noise Pollution on Mental Health of Individuals Living in Proximity in Owerri, Imo State

Noise pollution is a pervasive environmental issue with significant implications for human health and well-being. This study investigates the association of noise pollution, particularly emanating from religious activities in churches, on the mental well-being of residents in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was used, allowing for the collection of structured data at a single point in time. The study was conducted in the Owerri Municipal area due to its high density of residential areas and places of worship. The study population comprised two groups of individuals: those residing in close proximity to church houses and those not living in close proximity. The sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula, resulting in a sample size of approximately 152 for each group. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire titled “Church-House Noise Pollution and Mental Health Association Questionnaire (CHNPMHAQ)”. The questionnaires underwent a rigorous validation process to ensure their validity and reliability. Data was collected by the researcher and three trained research assistants, and was analyzed using tables, mean, and standard deviation. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation. The findings reveal that residents living near church houses perceive frequent disturbance and disruption of peace due to noise pollution, while those farther away are less affected. Noise pollution has significant adverse effects on the mental health of residents living near church houses, leading to increased stress, poor sleep quality, and negative mood changes. However, residents far from church houses reported association on their mental health. Specifically, mean responses for stress levels, sleep quality, and mood changes were 2.78, 2.72, and 2.68 respectively for residents near church houses, while for residents far from church houses, these were 1.60, 1.61, and 1.63, indicating significantly lower impact. These findings underscore the need for mitigation measures to address noise pollution from church houses, particularly for residents living in close proximity, and highlight the importance of tailored interventions to support affected residents' mental well-being.

Correlations between Urban Morphological Indicators and PM2.5 Pollution at Street-Level: Implications on Urban Spatial Optimization

During rapid urbanization, microclimate environment deterioration through events such as haze pollution and heat waves has continuously occurred in cities, which greatly affects the living environment, production activities, and health of urban residents. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to explore methods for controlling and optimizing the urban microclimate environment. In this paper, based on the mechanism of the effect of urban spatial structure at street-level on the distribution of atmospheric particulate matter, an indicator system that can be employed to comprehensively describe and quantify urban morphological structure at street-level was constructed from eight aspects: the spatial morphology of street-valleys, intensity of land use and development, geometric structure of buildings, inhomogeneity of buildings, roughness of the underlying surface, distribution of ecological landscapes, 3D architectural landscape morphology, and ventilation potential. Furthermore, using satellite remote sensing images and vector thematic maps of Shanghai, indicator factors were quantified by applying GIS technique. The intrinsic mechanism of the influence of the urban morphology on the diffusion and transport of atmospheric particulate matter was comprehensively analyzed by combining statistical methods and data mining algorithm, and eight key dominant factors were identified that can be considered to improve the urban ventilation conditions and help control urban air pollution, namely, the land use intensity, urban canopy resistance, vegetation cover, spatial congestion rate, comprehensive porosity, height-to-gross floor area ratio, building density, and average building volume ratio. As such, according to the quantitative analysis results for various combinations of the dominant factors, a spatial optimization strategy at street-level that can help improve the urban air quality was proposed in terms of identifying the pathways through which urban spatial elements affect the distribution of particulate matter, i.e., controlling the source–flow diversion–flow convergence process.

Characteristics of Cd Fluxe in Topsoil Around Typical Mining Area in Hezhou, Guangxi

Guangxi is a typical geological high background area in southwest China, where carbonates, black rock series, basic-ultrabasic rock mass, and metal deposits (mineralized bodies) exhibit strong weathering into loam, resulting in higher cadmium (Cd) content in the soil than that in other areas of China. In order to investigate the degree of influence of mining activities on topsoil environmental quality in the area with high geological background, we chose a mining area and control area in Hezhou for this research and systematically carried out a comparative study on Cd transport routes and transport flux density in topsoil. The results showed that the average atmospheric dry and wet deposition flux densities of Cd in the soil of the mining area and control area were 1.87 g·(hm2·a)-1 and 1.52 g·(hm2·a)-1, accounting for 61.5% and 60.3% of the total input flux density, respectively. The flux density of Cd in the soil by fertilization and irrigation was lower. Surface water infiltration was the main avenue of soil Cd output in both the mining area and control area, accounting for 75.4% and 86.6% of the total output flux density, respectively. The harvest output flux density in the mining area was higher than that in the control area, and the Cd content of rice planted in the mining area was higher than the standard, whereas that of maize was safe. On the whole, the net transport flux densities of soil Cd in the mining area and control area were -3.05 g·(hm2·a)-1 and -4.05 g·(hm2·a)-1, both of which showed Cd leaching in the soil. However, the points of high atmospheric deposition flux density and exceeding Cd content in rice were mainly distributed around the mining area, which may have posed a potential threat to the health of local residents. Therefore, it is suggested to control the soil Cd pollution through monitoring and planting structure adjustment.

Improvement of Human Comfort in Rural Cave Dwellings via Sunrooms in Cold Regions of China

Economic development limits the living quality of rural residents. In particular, the residential buildings in northern China generally have poor thermal comfort in winter, which affects the physical and mental health of residents. Because of the separation of rooms, residents who live in cave dwellings often have to enter and leave rooms in the course of their daily lives, which leads to worse thermal feelings in winter. Because of the low price and the wind insulation and heat storage, sunrooms are widely used in renovations of rural houses. The traditional purpose of the addition of a sunroom is to provide a buffer room between outdoor and indoor spaces. This manuscript focuses on improving the degree of thermal comfort by means of a sunroom connecting all rooms. This study selected two families with the same number of members and similar daily activities as the study cases. One of the families had a sunroom built to connect its bedroom, living room, and washroom. The household’s air temperature and human comfort were measured both on holidays and on workdays. It is demonstrated that adding a sunroom can significantly stabilize the thermal environment and increase the air temperature in both the bedroom and the living room. Adding a sunroom can increase the air temperature of a cave dwelling’s main room by 1.0 °C on workdays and 4.3 °C on holidays. A cave dwelling with a sunroom can also provide residents with a decent level of human comfort for 24.4% of their daily time on workdays and 39.1% of the time during holidays. This research demonstrates that a sunroom can not only increase the air temperature in cave dwellings but also enhance the stability of human comfort. The conclusion provides new renovation ideas for improving the living comfort of cave dwellings.

Incidence of Skin Melanoma in the Precarpathian Region. Overview of Trends of the Last Decade and Demonstration of Clinical Cases

Introduction. Melanoma is a malignant tumour that develops from melanocytes and in most cases affects the skin. Although melanomas are usually highly pigmented, they can also be amelanotic. In the structure of mortality from skin cancers, melanoma takes the leading place with a rate of 90%.&#x0D; Even small tumours can metastasise. Under such conditions, early diagnosis is of paramount importance, as its main task is to detect and eliminate the primary lesion before it becomes deeply invasive.&#x0D; However, naked eye examination is limited to a sensitivity of about 75%, and is more effective when the tumour size is more than 5 mm. Among the additional examination methods, dermoscopy has become widespread. The technique has been introduced into the world dermatological practice for a long time and is actively used in Ukraine, demonstrating high efficiency at a relatively low cost of equipment.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Statistical data on 901 cases of newly diagnosed skin melanoma in the Ivano-Frankivsk region were obtained from the bulletins of the National Cancer Registry of Ukraine for the period 2012-2022.&#x0D; Results and discussion. There has been a gradual decline in the number of undetermined melanoma cases according to the TNM classification. The indicator has changed by more than 50 percentage points, with the lowest values at the turn of 2017-2018, and a subsequent increase of 10 percentage points until 2022.&#x0D; The number of reported cases of skin melanoma where the primary tumour distribution corresponds to the TI-TII category has increased, with a peak value of 92.7% as of 2017. However, in the period 2019-2022, the trend changed dramatically. Since 2019, cases of skin melanoma diagnosed in the state of spread, which corresponds to category TIII, have prevailed – 51.1%, while cases of TI-TII accounted for 32.2%&#x0D; The global COVID pandemic that began in 2019 led to negative trends, contributed to the isolation of patients, and complicated their access to specialists. russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 exacerbated this impact, which was reflected in the indicators of 2019-2022.&#x0D; The clinical cases from our practice in 2018 and 2021 were presented in the article.&#x0D; Conclusions. Melanoma is a malignant tumour with a high metastatic potential, with a better prognosis for recovery if diagnosed early. The increase in the number of registered cases of skin melanoma with primary tumour distribution in category TI-TII in 2013-2017 may indicate the effectiveness of measures aimed at promoting self-examination and timely treatment of patients for specialised care. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine led to an increase in the proportion of melanomas diagnosed at the stage when the prevalence of the primary tumour corresponds to category TIII. It is necessary to resume measures that have had a positive impact on the health of residents of the Precarpathian region.

(052) Sexual Health and Clinical Sexology Specific Training Needs of Residents in Gynecology and Obstetrics

Abstract Introduction Assuming that the Obstetrician and Gynecologist (ObGyn) is the natural and first interlocutor for sexual questions in women, particular attention should be paid to their specific training in sexual health and clinical sexology. However, it turns out that the latter is neglected with little attention given to the development or implementation of specific curricular programs within the gynecologists’ residency programs. Objective This study aims to: - Identify and analyze the specific needs of the ObGyn residents in terms of education and training in Sexual Health and Clinical Sexology. - Discuss the methods of integrating a specific sexology training into their residency program to be adapted to the needs thus identified. Methods It is a knowledge, attitudes, and practices cross-sectional online study that took place over 5 weeks starting May 1st, 2021. All the ObGyn residents registered at the National College of Gynecology and Obstetrics were contacted through the College’s social media groups. The online questionnaire was a 9-item Google form elaborated in concertation with the Frequency, Gravity Problem (FGP) grid leading to 33 questions. Results With a response rate of 34 %, 94 residents participated in the survey. The participants were representative of the local population of ObGyn residents with an equal proportion of participants from the 5 years of the program. According to 69% of the participants, complaints or sexual disorders are rarely encountered during the ObGyn residency program courses. This finding was not correlated with the participants' residency level (R= 0.258, p&amp;gt; 0.05). The most frequently encountered sexual disorders during the clinical consultations were sexual disorders with pain (44.68%) and in particular vaginismus (75%). Regardless of the frequency of the disorders, the difficulties reported were primarily in the domain of knowledge (67.5%); then in the domain of know-how or practices (68%), and often in the domain of interpersonal skills (42.2%). Following the application of the rating system of the FGP grid, the main problems identified concerned sexual disorders with pain, in particular, vaginismus and then a decrease in female desire. Conclusions Following the analysis of these results and a review of the literature, we were able to propose the outline of a project to implement basic academic education and training in clinical sexology for the ObGyn residents. Disclosure No.

Distribution, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment of soil antibiotic resistance genes in urban green spaces

Urban green spaces play a crucial role in cities by providing near-natural environments that greatly impacts the health of residents. However, these green spaces have recently been scrutinized as potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), posing significant ecological risks. Despite this concern, our understanding of the distribution, sources, and ecological risks associated with ARGs remains limited. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of soil ARGs using spatial interpolation and auto-correlation analysis. To apportion the source of soil ARGs in urban green spaces of Tianjin, Geo-detector method (GDM) was employed. Furthermore, we evaluated the ecological risk posed by ARGs employing risk quotients (RQ). The results of our study showed a significantly higher abundance of Quinolone resistance genes in the soil of urban green spaces in Tianjin. These genes were mainly found in the northwest, central, and eastern regions of the city. Our investigation identified three main factors contributing to the presence of soil ARGs: antibiotic production, precipitation, livestock breeding, and hospital. The results of ecological risk in RQ value showed a high risk associated with Quinolone resistance genes, followed by Aminoglycoside, Tetracycline, Multidrug, MLSB, Beta Lactam, Sulfonamide, and Chloramphenicol. Mantel-test and correlation analysis revealed that the ecological risk of ARGs was greatly influenced by soil properties and heavy metals. This study provides a new perspective on source apportionment and the ecological risk assessment of soil ARGs in urban green spaces.

The health and welfare effects of environmental governance: Evidence from China

Environmental regulations aim to reduce pollution and improve air quality and the health of residents. However, there is a lack of research focusing on the health and welfare effects of low-carbon city pilot policies. In this context, this study takes China’s low-carbon city pilot policy as an entry point, focuses on the health effects of public environmental governance, and systematically investigates the effects and mechanisms of low-carbon city development on the health of middle-aged and elderly people by applying the difference-in-differences method. The study finds that low-carbon city (LCC) policy significantly improves the physical and mental health of middle-aged and elderly people, and the main transmission mechanism is the reduction in air pollution and improvement in social capital. These results hold following a series of robustness tests. Furthermore, low-carbon city construction can reduce hospitalization and outpatient costs for people over 45 years old by up to 3 % and 15.5 %, respectively. The findings of this study provide useful policy insights for ensuring sustainable improvement in environmental quality and public health.

Spatial distribution characteristics and source apportionment of heavy metal(loid)s in park dust in the Mianyang urban area, China.

Park dust is a carrier of heavy metal pollutants and could potentially harm the health of urban residents. The concentrations of 10 heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in park dust from the Mianyang urban area were analysed via X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Based on ArcGIS spatial analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, the spatial distribution and sources of HMs in park dust were studied. The average contents of Zn, Co, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Ba in park dust were 185.0, 33.7, 38.7, 178.7, 51.0, and 662.1mg/kg, respectively, which are higher than the reference values. The 10 HMs exhibited obvious spatial distribution and local spatial agglomeration patterns. High concentrations of As and Pb were primarily concentrated in the eastern part of the Mianyang urban area. High concentrations of Zn, Cr, and Cu were largely distributed in parks near the Changjiang River and Fujiang River. A high concentration of Co was concentrated in the northern region. The high-value areas of Mn, Ba, V, and Ni occurred far from the city centre and were located in the southwestern region. We found that Pb and As primarily originated from mixed traffic and natural sources; Zn, Cr, and Cu mainly originated from industrial activities; Co largely originated from building sources; and Ba, Ni, Mn, and V were mostly derived from natural sources. Mixed, industrial, building, and natural sources accounted for 24.5%, 24.8%, 24.7%, and 26.0%, respectively, of the HM sources. Co, Cu, Cr, and Zn in the Mianyang urban area were obviously influenced by human activities and should receive close attention.

Exploring the Land Cover Material Interaction of Urban Open Space on the Thermal Comfort of Crowds in High-Temperature Environments and Retrofit Strategies: Two Case Studies in the Nanjing Xinjiekou District

The increased frequency of extreme hot weather events in recent years poses a significant threat to the lives and health of urban residents. Consequently, the thermal comfort of urban open areas has garnered growing attention. The ground material in these urban open areas directly impacts the thermal environment, which significantly influences the comfort of crowds. This study aimed to assess the effect of land cover materials in urban center squares on the thermal comfort of people in high-temperature conditions. Eight types of land cover materials were selected from the two urban squares in the central district of Nanjing Xinjiekou. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) calculations were performed by measuring the surface temperature, the air temperature, the humidity, and other relevant data to evaluate population thermal comfort. The findings indicated that grass provided the highest thermal comfort, with PET scores ranked as follows, from low to high: grass, permeable bricks, granite, concrete, basalt, bluestone, andesite, and asphalt. Additionally, factors such as color, roughness, and shade within the same material also impacted thermal comfort. Subsequently, using the ENVI-met 5.1 software, surface materials exhibiting superior thermal comfort were simulated for replacement, aiming to confirm the experimental results and propose retrofit strategies for improving urban square thermal comfort by optimizing material selection. The outcomes of this study hold significant implications for urban open space design and the overall well-being of city dwellers. The thermal environment in urban centers during high-temperature conditions can be improved by optimizing the choice of land cover materials in urban open areas, thereby enhancing the comfort of the population.

Timely Yet Long Overdue: Canadian Standards for Long-Term Care Homes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted systemic problems in Canadian long-term care (LTC). While high mortality rates in LTC received significant attention, the pandemic also took an enormous toll on mental health of LTC residents, where mental health conditions, including cognitive disorders, are already much higher than in other community settings. The pandemic resulted in a renewed interest in improving quality of care in LTC and led to the recent development of several National Standards of Canada. The newly available Standards set ambitious targets, but many of the standards are practical and essential to moving beyond a focus on safety and physical needs in LTC and towards one that supports residents as whole persons. While the standards support good mental health indirectly, there is a need to recognize mental health in these settings as a fundamental human right and essential to quality of life, and for this to be reflected in ongoing and future standards development. Ensuring existing and forthcoming National Standards are meaningfully implemented, in whole or in part, will require extensive efforts at multiple levels. The guidance provided by Canadian Standards will shape this transformative process, necessitating aligned federal and provincial investments and policies, and stakeholder engagement to bring about the envisioned high-quality care.

Impact of the 2021 Fire in the Municipality of Ancient Olympia in Greece on the Mental Health of Residents

A natural disaster is the probability of a potentially catastrophic event occurring over a period of time in a specific geographical area. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the catastrophic fire of 2021 affected the mental health, in terms of post-traumatic stress and depression, of the social care services beneficiaries in the Municipality of Ancient Olympia in Greece. A questionnaire was used which, apart from demographic questions, contained two main tools: a) the PCL Scale (a tool for assessing post-traumatic stress), b) the Geriatric Depression Scale. The individuals with post-traumatic stress in the sample are in the range of moderate to high PTSD symptomatology. The majority of the participants are in the range of moderate PTSD symptomatology, but there is also a significant percentage who are in the range of high PTSD symptomatology. In terms of geriatric depression, the individuals in the sample are close to the mean. This article was written to serve as reference for the PTSD that can be directly caused by natural disasters.

The mental health of Russians in "post-pandemic": the empirical studies review

The article presents review of empirical social medical and sociological studies of mental health of Russians in "post-pandemic" (2022 - first half of 2023). The purpose of the study is to generalize results of corresponding studies. The review covers the articles in national scientific journals indexed in the RSCI, the results of monitoring surveys carried out by both all-Russian research organizations handling analysis of public opinion and by Federal research and educational organizations. The criteria of selection of studies included the study field stage was implemented in January 2022 - June 2023; sociological survey technique was applied; the study object was whole population of the Russian Federation or its subject or a separate social group. it was established, on the basis of all-Russian and regional data, that in mentioned period public mental health of residents of Russia is characterized by wave dynamics. The increasing of anxiety level in beginning of March and in the end of September 2022. The level of depressive symptomatic prevalence still exceeded "pre-pandemic" values. The increased level of anxiety is more typical in the youth and women. The vulnerable groups are also residents of territories bordering on zone of special military operation, members of families of combatants and Ukraine refugees. In conditions of law demand of population for psychological psychiatric care the issue of searching alternative tools of psychological safety of Russian citizen is actualized.

ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICAL POLLUTION OF THE SURFACE WATER IN VLADIMIR

The results of studies of river water of the Vladimir city district for the content of heavy metals conducted in August 2022 are presented and the anionic-cationic composition of water is analyzed. It is shown that a number of heavy metals (lead, iron, cadmium, zinc, copper and vanadium) and ions (ammonium, magnesium, sulfates, nitrates, fluorides, phosphates) in water samples of the rivers of the city district exceed hygienic and fishery standards, which is due to both human economic activity and regional specifics of the geochemical composition of water-bearing rocks and features of groundwater functioning and feeding. The potassium concentration in water of the Nerl river, which is a drinking water source for Vladimir, corresponds to the lower threshold of physiological competence, which can affect the health of city residents if they use such water for a long time. It is shown that insufficient extraction of biogenic elements at the treatment facilities of enterprises could lead to their ingress into water bodies in concentrations exceeding hygienic and fishery standards. This in turn could contribute to the accumulation of other elements. Strict requirements for the content of chemical elements in fishery water bodies make it necessary to improve the equipment and technological schemes of purification at treatment facilities. Small rivers of cities are vulnerable and poorly protected; therefore they require special attention of environmental authorities. Being tributaries of larger rivers, small rivers form the quality of their waters. If they are used for the household and drinking purposes, they become a factor determining the health of urban residents.