Planning the structure of laboratory tests to examine environmental objects within social-hygienic monitoring: Risk-oriented approach

Social-hygienic monitoring functions as a system providing information support for measures aimed at eliminating adverse effects of environmental exposures on the population. Elimination of such effects requires establishing risk-inducing factors and their correct quantification.

The aim of this study was to develop methodical approaches and criteria for creating a structure of laboratory tests for examining environmental objects within social-hygienic monitoring accomplished by Rospotrebnadzor’s regional bodies and institutions relying on available allocated funds.

Initial data for developing the approaches and testing them were represented by data taken from Rospotrebnadzor’s depart-mental report forms and medical statistical data regularly published by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The approaches were based on results obtained by mathematical modeling of cause-effect relations within the Environment – Health system; the modeling procedure is fixed in the valid methodical documents issued by Rospotrebnadzor. In addition, we took the results obtained by using these models for calculating disease and death cases associated with environmental exposure in a specific year.

We suggest an algorithm and a mathematical apparatus for risk-oriented planning of laboratory observations over environmental objects within social-hygienic monitoring. The approach ensures that the test structure corresponds to that of population morbidity associated with negative effects produced by polluted ambient air, drinking water, soils in residential areas, and food products. It covers both national-level and regional peculiarities of a sanitary-epidemiological situation.

The algorithm is implemented with using the results obtained by modeling cause-effect relations within the Environment – Health system and data on disease cases associated with environmental pollution in 2024. Having compared the existing monitoring structure and the recommended one, we have found that the system of laboratory tests in regions is not fully adequate to existing health risks and can be optimized using medical and demographic losses as optimization criteria. Use of risk-oriented monitoring is deemed to give an opportunity to create a more adequate observation system as information support for reacting to health risks and life threats.