CURRENT STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE ARCTIC ZONE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA)

Abstract

The article considers the main parameters of environmental pollution in the Arctic zone of the Republic of Sakha - Yakutia (AZRS) and the impact of this process on the health of the local communities. Analysis of the ecological and economic situation indicates that the largest amount of pollutants enters the regional environment as a result of the activities of mining enterprises. The latter is also complemented by the negative role of the energy sector, transport, and reindeer herding. The negative results of anthropogenic activity are enhanced by some natural features of the studied area, such as slow decomposition of pollutants due to low temperatures and their concentration in the upper soil layers due to permafrost. Therefore, the AZRS was targeted for a study of the condition of the public health - both in general and by individual groups (age, occupation, gender, ethnicity). As a result, the main classes of pathologies were identified, and a local pattern of the general situation with the population’s disease incidence in this region was compiled. The presented paper also assesses the current state of the regional health care system and proposes some measures to improve its performance.