Analysis of population health in relation to drinking water quality in Murmansk oblast

Introduction. Drinking water is one of the most important environmental factors that determines human health, which requires a search for causal relationships between drinking water pollution and increased incidence of the population. Materials and methods. We studied the incidence level of Murmansk Oblast (Russia) population with diseases associated with the drinking water quality. We also analyzed the drinking water quality, and calculated the carcinogenic risk associated with the intake of pollutants from drinking water. Results. The risk areas in terms of drinking water quality are the city of Kirovsk and Pechenga district, the priority pollutants of drinking water are aluminum and nickel. In Pechenga district, there is an increased incidence of the blood diseases, digestive organs, nervous system, skin and subcutaneous tissue, as well as female infertility. The highest incidence rates of malignant neoplasms are recorded in the city of Murmansk. Conclusions. The aluminum role in the formation of the incidence level in the Kirovsk city population has not been established. The nickel impact on the health of the Pechenga district population may be associated with the development of female infertility and the development of contact dermatitis, in case of cutaneous action. However, the other risk factors contribution, including exposure to nickel and its compounds in the professional activities framework, needs to be clarified. The carcinogens influence present in drinking water on the additional cases formation of malignant neoplasms in Murmansk Oblast seems to be negligible.