Trace element status and health of Northern populations: a scientific review

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

Available publications define the objectives of biogeochemistry and introduce its key concepts: living matter and biogenic migration of chemical elements. According to studies, the biochemical parameters of living organisms depend on the geochemical environment and the content of essential elements within it. Researchers suggest that the physiological system of trace elements in living organisms serves as a structural and functional basis for metabolic processes.

Biogeochemical provinces are areas with imbalanced concentrations of chemical elements. Trace element imbalance is geochemical diseases in humans and animals, with defined mechanisms of formation. Evidence shows that both deficiencies and excess of bioelements in the human body contribute to psychosomatic disorders, such as lifestyle diseases, reduced fertility, an increase in infertile marriages, and various forms of deviant behavior.

Regional biogeochemical research is needed to study the distribution of chemical elements in the environment, plants, animals, and the human body. The natural and climatic conditions and the biogeochemical profile of northern regions are still poorly studied, particularly with regard to the elemental status of residents in the Arctic areas. Low levels of essential elements in the biosphere of the North create a biological burden for the population and contribute to an increased risk of trace element imbalance. Studies have identified common features of elemental status among residents of both the Asian and European North, including widespread deficiencies of cobalt, selenium, calcium, and iodine. Among migrants to the North, lower levels of iron, selenium, and fluoride lead to an acclimatization-related deficiency of these elements.

The published data also indicates that the biosphere of the North is polluted. Arctic contamination affects soil and vegetation, drinking water, and leads to bioaccumulation of toxic elements such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic in living organisms.

Nutritional patterns in the North are characterized by a reduced share of traditional food products in the local diet. The natural deficiency of essential elements, enhanced by the loss of biologically valuable nutrition, contributes to further deficiency of iron, zinc, cobalt, copper, manganese, iodine, and selenium, reducing the human body’s adaptive potential in northern conditions.

An analysis of ecological and medical issues related to iodine allows clarifying its physiological role, assessing iodine sufficiency among the Russian population, identifying iodine deficiency as a public health concern, and proposing corrective measures.

In conclusion, maintaining the health of northern populations requires biogeochemical monitoring of Arctic regions, identification of territories predisposed to biogeochemical endemics, and prevention of diseases of geochemical origin.

About the authors

Anatoly L. Gorbachev

Federal Research Center for Comprehensive Study of the Arctic named after Academician N.P. Laverov

Author for correspondence.
Email: gor000@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2432-3408
SPIN-code: 7050-3412

Dr. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, 20 Nikolsky ave, Arkhangelsk, 163020

References

  1. Vernadsky VI. Biogeochemical essays. Moscow-Leningrad: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences; 1940. (In Russ)
  2. Akmayev IG. Neuroimmunoendocrinology, its developmental consideration. Uspekhi Fiziologicheskikh Nauk. 2003;34(4):4–15. (In Russ.) EDN: OPKGWR
  3. Vinogradov AP. Biogeochemical provinces and endemics. DAN SSSR. 1938;18(4/5):283–286. (In Russ.)
  4. Ermakov VV. A.P. Vinogradov's concept of biogeochemical provinces and its development. Geochemistry International. 2017;55(10):872–886. doi: 10.7868/S0016752517100041 EDN: ZHNBZX
  5. Korobova EM, Baranchukova VS, Kolmykova LI. Theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of spatial patterns of distribution of endemic diseases of geochemical nature. Geohimiâ. 2023;68(10):1073–1086. doi: 10.31857/S0016752523100060 EDN: NLACVQ
  6. Avtsyn AP, Zhavoronkov AA. Microelementoses diseases caused by deficiency, excess and imbalance of microelements in the body of humans and animals. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 1994;(2):53-57. (In Russ.).
  7. Shatova OP, Zuikov SA, Zabolotneva AA, et al. Bioelements: role in the development of diseases of civilization. East European Scientific Journal. Medical Sciences. 2021;4(11(75)):45-58. doi: 10.31618/ESSA.2782-1994.2021.4.75.175 EDN: NQTDAN
  8. Borisov VV. Role of trace mineral deficiencies in decreased fertility and infertility (Clinical Lecture). Clinical review for general practice. 2021;4:64–70. doi: 10.47407/kr2021.2.4.00062 EDN: ICJWRE
  9. Oberlis D, Harland B, Skalny A. Biological role of macro- and microelements in humans and animals. St. Petersburg: Nauka, 2008. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-02-025305-6 EDN: QKRRQX
  10. Agadzhanyan NA, Skalny AV, Detkov VYu. Human elemental portrait: Morbidity, demography and problem of nation health management. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2013;20(11):3-12. doi: 10.17816/humeco17282 EDN: RKRTQZ
  11. Nadtochiy LA, Smirnova SV, Bronnikova EP. The depopulation of indigenous and small-numbered peoples and problem of preserving of ethnic groups of the North-East of Russia. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2015;23(3):3–11. doi: 10.17816/humeco17087 EDN: TMITDX
  12. Talykova LV, Megorsky VV, Bykov VR. Mortality trends in indigenous working-age population of the Koryak Okrug and the population of the arctic monotown in 1968-1991. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2022;29(9):617-629. doi: 10.17816/humeco108281 EDN: OVCJYY
  13. Mulik AB, Nazarov NO, Ulesikova V, et al. Elemental status and psychological predisposition of the Russian population to deviant behavior Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2023;30(6):457–467.doi: 10.17816/humeco409629 EDN: JBIHHI
  14. Bykov VA, Skalny AV. Bioelementology as an integrative direction in life science. Problems of Biological, Medical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. 2011;(6);4-8. EDN: PVBUGV
  15. Shafran LM. Medical elementology: new direction, new paradigm. Trace elements in medicine. 2019;20(4):63-68. EDN: YWOVKH
  16. Chereshnev VA, Poznyakovskiy VM. The food supply security problem: national and international aspects. Food industry. 2016;(1(1)):6-14. EDN: YHWOQL
  17. Skalny AV. Evaluation and correction of elemental status of the population as a perspective direction of national healthcare and environmental monitoring. Trace elements in medicine. 2018;19(1):5–13. doi: 10.19112/2413-6174-2018-19-1-5-13 EDN: XODDRR
  18. Aftanas LI, Bonitenko EYu, Varenik VI, et al. Elemental status of the population of Russia. Skalny AV, Kiselev MF, editors. St. Petersburg: Medkniga "ELBI-SPb", 2010-2014. ISBN: 978-5-91322-017-2 EDN: QKTYJB
  19. Gorbachev AL. Efimova АV, Lugovaya ЕА, Bulban АP. Features of element's status of inhabitants of different natural-geographic territories of the Magadan region. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2003;(6):12–16.EDN: HRTKUV
  20. Gorbachev AL, Dobrodeeva LK, Tedder YuR, Shatsova EN. Biogeochemical description of northern regions. microelement status of Arkhangelsk region population and prediction of endemic diseases development. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2007;(1):4-11.EDN: HVISFZ
  21. Egorova GА. Element status of grown-up population living in different medical-geographic zones of republic Sakha (Yakutia). Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2007;(1):55-59. EDN: HVISJL
  22. Vinogradova IA, Varganova DV, Lugovaya EA. Hair macro- and microelement assessment in residents of european north depending on gender and age. Advances in Gerontology. 2021;34(4):572-580. doi: 10.34922/AE.2021.34.4.010 EDN: AGOIZC
  23. Gorbachev AL, Skalny AV, Lugovaya EA. Some patterns of elemental status of residents of the northern regions of Russia against the background of biogeochemical characteristics of the North. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2008;5A(28):22-25. (In Russ.)
  24. Gorbachev AL. The role of the chemical composition of drinking water in the formation of human elemental status. Trace elements in medicine. 2006;7(2):11-24. (In Russ.) EDN: NPTFBL
  25. Vinogradova IA, Varganova DV, Matveeva YuP, et al. Prevalence of calcium deficiency in the hair in people at different age and sex living in the European North. Advances in Gerontology. 2023;36(1):109-114. doi: 10.34922/AE.2023.36.1.014 EDN: HLEKVW
  26. Nikanov AN, Gudkov AB, Popova ON, et al. Blood mineral composition in residents of the arctic region with low water mineralization rates in centralized tap water supply systems. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2021;(3):42–47. doi: 10.33396/1728-0869-2021-3-42-47 EDN: CRGVJU
  27. Kirillova AV, Dorshakova NV, Dudanov IP. On the pathogenesis of hypertension and ischemic heart disease with a deficiency of calcium and magnesium intake in the North. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2006;(1):3–8.EDN: HRTCMR
  28. Yahyaev MA, Salikhov ShK, Abdulkadyrova SO, et al. Contents of magnesium in the environment and population morbidity rate of arterial hypertension. Hygiene and Sanitation. 2019;98(5):494-497. doi: 10.18821/0016-9900-2019-98-5-494-497 EDN: DNTINT
  29. Chashchin VP, Gudkov AB, Popova ON, et al. Description of main health risk factors for population living in the territories of active economic exploitaition of natural resources in the Arctic. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2014;21(1):3–12. doi: 10.17816/humeco17269 EDN: RYIEQP
  30. Kozyreva TV, Tkachenko EYa. Afferent and efferent links of the thermoregulation system during the organism’s adaptation to cold. In: Essays on ecological physiology. Trufakin VA, Shoshenko KA, editors. Novosibirsk: SB RAMS;1999. P.61-72. (In Russ.) EDN: UKXBTL
  31. Kodentsova VM, Pogozheva AV, Gromova OA, Shikh EV. Vitamin-mineral supplements in nutrition of adults. Voprosy Pitania. 2015;84(6):41-150.EDN: VEAEHX
  32. Marachev AG, Zhavoronkov AA. Acclimatization iron deficiency. Fiziologiâ čeloveka. 1987;13(4):640–646. (In Russ.)
  33. Nikanov AN, Dorofeev VM, Megorsky VV, Zhirov VK, editors. Ecological aspects of accumulation of mineral elements in the body of the population living in areas of intensive industrial activity in the European part of the Arctic zone of Russia: monograph. Apatity: Publishing House of KSC RAS; 2020. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-91137-440-2 doi: 10.37614/978.5.91137.440.2 EDN: USESQL
  34. Bogoslovskaya LS, Slugin IV, Zagrebin IA, Krupnik II. Fundamentals of marine mammal hunting: scientific and methodological manual. Moscow-Anadyr: Institute of Heritage; 2007. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-86443-142-9 EDN: QKZECR
  35. Dudarev A, Odland JO. Human health in connection with arctic pollution-results and perspectives of international studies under the aegis of AMAP. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2017;(9):3-14. doi: 10.33396/1728-0869-2017-9-3-14 EDN: ZFVNJL
  36. Kovshov AA, Novikova YuA, Fedorov VN, Tikhonova NA. Diseases risk assessment associated with the quality of drinking water in the urban districts of Russian arctic. Journal of Ural Medical Academic Science. 2019;16(2):215-222. doi: 10.22138/2500-0918-2019-16-2-215-222 EDN: QBLRBZ
  37. Zimovec AA. Some features of heavy metals distribution in soils of the north European territory of Russia (on example Arkhangelsk area's soils). Anthropogenic Transformation of Nature. 2010;(1):303–309.EDN: WKXDQZ
  38. Rigét F, Bignert A, Braune B, et al. Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants in Arctic marine and freshwater biota. Sci. Total Environ. 2019;649:99-110. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.268.
  39. Avtsyn AP, Zhavoronkov AA, Marachev AG, Milovanov AP. Human pathology in the North. M, 1985. (In Russ.)
  40. Korchin VI, Korchina TYa, Ternikova EM, et al. Influence of climatic and geographical factors of the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug on the health of its population (Review). Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2021;9(1):77–88. doi: 10.37482/2687-1491-Z046 EDN: JFHWCN
  41. Khan F, Momtaz S, Abdollahi M. The relationship between mercury exposure and epigenetic alterations regarding human health, risk assessment and diagnostic strategies. J.Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 2019;(52):37-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.11.006
  42. World Health Organization [Internet]. Mercury and health (Fact sheet No. 361). Geneva: WHO; 2013. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs361/en/
  43. Filimonenko E, Vatutin G, Zherebyatyeva N, et al. Wildfire effects on mercury fate in soils of North-Western Siberia. Sci. Total Environ. 2024;951:175572. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175572 EDN: PTGBOD
  44. Nemova NN, Lysenko LA, Meshcheryakova OV, Komov VT. Mercury in fish: biochemical indication. «Biosphera». 2014;6(2):176-186. (In Russ.) doi: 10.24855/biosfera.v6i2.215 EDN: SHJZCX
  45. Sheehan MC, Burke TA, Navas-Acien A, et al. Global methylmercury exposure from seafood consumption and risk of developmental neurotoxicity: a systematic review. Bull. W.H.O. 2014;92(4):254-269F. doi: 10.2471/BLT.12.116152 EDN: WOPURB
  46. Bechshoft T, Derocher AE, Richardson E, et al. Mercury and cortisol in Western Hudson Bay polar bear hair. Ecotoxicology. 2015;24(6):1315–1321. doi: 10.1007/s10646-015-1506-9 EDN: BZXFZN
  47. Bjørklund G, Chirumbolo S, Dadar M, et al. Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 2019;125(4):317-327. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.13264 EDN: JEXIJQ
  48. Korchina TYa. Correlation between concentration Hg, Pb and Cd in adult native inhabitant' hair of Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous region and concentration the same chemical elements in native products. RUDN Journal of Ecology and Life Safety. 2008;(4):62-69. EDN: JUCKAN
  49. Koutsenogii KP, Savchenko TI, Chankina OV, et al. Elemental composition of blood and hair of the native inhabitants of the North of Russia with different biogeochemical environments. Chemistry for Sustainable Development. 2010;18(1):51-61. EDN: KZSKWT
  50. Gorbachev AL. Mercury as a most important environmental pollutant: the body levels of mercury and other toxic chemical elements in indigenous residents of North-East Russia. Trace elements in medicine. 2016;17(2):3–9. doi: 10.19112/2413-6174-2016-17-2-3-9 EDN: WBERVT
  51. Rusetskaya NYu, Borodulin VB. Biological activity of organoselenium compounds in heavy metal intoxication. Biochem. Moscow Suppl. Ser. B. 2015;(1):45-57. doi: 10.1134/S1990750815010072 EDN: SEWZQR
  52. Spiller H.A. Rethinking mercury: the role of selenium in the pathophysiology of mercury toxicity. Clin. Toxicol. 2017;56(5):313–326. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1400555
  53. Dietz R, Mosbech A, Flora J, Eulaers I. Interactions of climate, socio-economics, and global mercury pollution in the North Water. Ambio. 2018;47(2):281-295. doi: 10.1007/s13280-018-1033-z EDN: DTQVZX
  54. Zorina DYu, Batsevich VA. The trace element status of indigenous population of arctic regions (the Chukchi and Eskimos) based on analysis of hair. Lomonosov Journal of Anthropology. 2011;(4):105-111. EDN: OKKHKX
  55. Gorbachev AL, Lygovaya EA. Features of the elemental status of children with autism spectrum disorder. Trace elements in medicine. 2019;20(3):20–30. doi: 10.19112/2413-6174-2019-20-3-20-30 EDN: GYOMVI
  56. Gudkov АB, Popova ОN, Lukmanova NB. Ecological-physiological characteristic of northern climatic factors. Literature review. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2012;(1):12–17. doi: 10.17816/humeco17513 EDN: OSKLRJ
  57. Khasnulin VI. Introduction to polar medicine. Novosibirsk: SB RAMS, 1998. (In Russ.) ISBN: 5-900107-10-8 EDN: RWXGVZ
  58. Kozlov AI, Kozlova MA, Vershubskaya GG, Shilov AB. Health of the indigenous population of the Russian North: on the edge of centuries and cultures: monograph. Belavin AM, editor. Perm: OT i DO, 2013. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-4357-0052-6 EDN: RZYUZX
  59. Tchantchaeva EA. To the issue of the adequacy of nutrition of Siberian aboriginal population. Literature rewiev. Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2010;(3):31–34. EDN: KZVBCF
  60. Istomin AV, Fedina IN, Shkurikhina SV, Kutakova NS. Nutrition and the north: hygienic problems of the Arctic zone of Russia (Literature review). Hygiene and Sanitation. 2018;97(6):557-563. doi: 10.18821/0016-9900-2018-97-6-557-563 EDN: XVLSPZ
  61. Nikiforova NA, Karapetyan TA, Dorshakova NV. Feeding habits of the Northerners (Literature Review). Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology). 2018;25(11):20-25. doi: 10.33396/1728-0869-2018-11-20-25 EDN: YNWBUL
  62. Nikitin YP, Khasnulin VI, Gudkov AB. Performance academy polar medicine and extreme human ecology for 1995-2015: modern problems of northern medicine and efforts of scientists to address them. Meditsina Kyrgyzstana. 2015;1(2):8–14. (In Russ.) EDN: XIFABR
  63. Kucher AN. Gene-environment interactions as the basis of health formation. Ecological genetics. 2017;15(4):19-32. doi: 10.17816/ecogen15419-32 EDN: VHGUND
  64. Andronov SV, Lobanov AA, Bichkaeva FA, et al. Traditional nutrition and demography in the arctic zone of Western Siberia. Voprosy Pitaniia. 2020;89(5):69-79. doi: 10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10067 EDN: ULIZLT
  65. Sobolev N, Aksenov A, Sorokina T, et al. Iodine and bromine in fish consumed by indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic. Sci. Rep. 2020; 25;10(1):5451. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62242-1 EDN: MHPDDB
  66. Chizhova LA, Khadyko AI. Development of aquaculture in the Northern and arctic territories: problems and solutions (on the example of the Arkhangelsk oblast). Arktika i Sever [Arctic and North] 2023;(53):135-154. doi: 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2023.53.135 EDN: HJQPUV
  67. Gorbachev AL, Lugovaya EA. Trace element profile typical for aboriginal residents of Russia’s Northeast. The Bulletin of the North-East Scientific Center. 2015;(1):86–94. EDN: TQQNRD
  68. Pokhilyuk NV, Gorbachev AL. Ethnic aspects of toxic elements in the Russian Northeast. RUDN Journal of Ecology and Life Safety.2022;30(1):58–66. doi: 10.22363/2313-2310-2022-30-1-58-66 EDN: QJPESJ
  69. Krivoshchekov SG, Okhotnikov SV. Industrial migrations and human health in the North. Novosibirsk: SB RAMS, 2000. (In Russ.) EDN: RFCYXN
  70. Sevostyanova YeV. Some features of human lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the North (Literature Review). Bulletin of Siberian Medicine. 2013;12(1):93-100. doi: 10.20538/1682-0363-2013-1- EDN: QABARP
  71. Stroev YuI, Churilov LP. The heaviest element of life (On the 200th anniversary of the discovery of iodine). «Biosphera». 2012;4(3):313–342. (In Russ.) EDN: PCXGNZ
  72. Troshina EA. Elimination of iodine deficiency is a concern for the health of the nation. An excursion into the history, scientific aspects and the current state of the legal regulation of the problem in Russia. Problems of Endocrinology. 2022;68(4):4-12. doi: 10.14341/probl13154 EDN: GAKKBM
  73. Guidance on the monitoring of salt iodization programmes and determination of population iodine status: Russian language version. Clinical and experimental thyroidology. 2018;14(2):100-112. doi: 10.14341/ket9734 EDN: XWQWUH
  74. Kovalski VV. Geochemical ecology of endemic goiter. Geochemical ecology. Moscow: Nauka, 1974. 214-229. (In Russ.)
  75. Malov AI, editor. Research and utilization of groundwater in the European North. Proceedings of the International Conference "Ecology of the Northern Territories of Russia: Problems, Forecasts, Situations, Development Paths, Solutions; 2002 June 17–22; Arkhangelsk, Russia. Arkhangelsk: Institute of Environmental Problems of the North; 2002. (In Russ.) ISBN: 5-85879-017-8 EDN: YRCKEC

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML

Copyright (c) 2025 Eco-Vector

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
 


Согласие на обработку персональных данных с помощью сервиса «Яндекс.Метрика»

1. Я (далее – «Пользователь» или «Субъект персональных данных»), осуществляя использование сайта https://journals.rcsi.science/ (далее – «Сайт»), подтверждая свою полную дееспособность даю согласие на обработку персональных данных с использованием средств автоматизации Оператору - федеральному государственному бюджетному учреждению «Российский центр научной информации» (РЦНИ), далее – «Оператор», расположенному по адресу: 119991, г. Москва, Ленинский просп., д.32А, со следующими условиями.

2. Категории обрабатываемых данных: файлы «cookies» (куки-файлы). Файлы «cookie» – это небольшой текстовый файл, который веб-сервер может хранить в браузере Пользователя. Данные файлы веб-сервер загружает на устройство Пользователя при посещении им Сайта. При каждом следующем посещении Пользователем Сайта «cookie» файлы отправляются на Сайт Оператора. Данные файлы позволяют Сайту распознавать устройство Пользователя. Содержимое такого файла может как относиться, так и не относиться к персональным данным, в зависимости от того, содержит ли такой файл персональные данные или содержит обезличенные технические данные.

3. Цель обработки персональных данных: анализ пользовательской активности с помощью сервиса «Яндекс.Метрика».

4. Категории субъектов персональных данных: все Пользователи Сайта, которые дали согласие на обработку файлов «cookie».

5. Способы обработки: сбор, запись, систематизация, накопление, хранение, уточнение (обновление, изменение), извлечение, использование, передача (доступ, предоставление), блокирование, удаление, уничтожение персональных данных.

6. Срок обработки и хранения: до получения от Субъекта персональных данных требования о прекращении обработки/отзыва согласия.

7. Способ отзыва: заявление об отзыве в письменном виде путём его направления на адрес электронной почты Оператора: info@rcsi.science или путем письменного обращения по юридическому адресу: 119991, г. Москва, Ленинский просп., д.32А

8. Субъект персональных данных вправе запретить своему оборудованию прием этих данных или ограничить прием этих данных. При отказе от получения таких данных или при ограничении приема данных некоторые функции Сайта могут работать некорректно. Субъект персональных данных обязуется сам настроить свое оборудование таким способом, чтобы оно обеспечивало адекватный его желаниям режим работы и уровень защиты данных файлов «cookie», Оператор не предоставляет технологических и правовых консультаций на темы подобного характера.

9. Порядок уничтожения персональных данных при достижении цели их обработки или при наступлении иных законных оснований определяется Оператором в соответствии с законодательством Российской Федерации.

10. Я согласен/согласна квалифицировать в качестве своей простой электронной подписи под настоящим Согласием и под Политикой обработки персональных данных выполнение мною следующего действия на сайте: https://journals.rcsi.science/ нажатие мною на интерфейсе с текстом: «Сайт использует сервис «Яндекс.Метрика» (который использует файлы «cookie») на элемент с текстом «Принять и продолжить».