1.5.1 Assessing and Managing Biosafety in the System of Measures for Sustainable Development of the Arctic

Research Area 1. Social Science and Humanities Aspects of Human Capital  → Research Program 1.5 Anthropological Diversity and Adaptive Capacity in Human Populations

Project period

2020-2025

Context of Research Project within a Subject of Human Capital

Within the framework of the research project Assessing and Managing Biosafety in the System of Measures for Sustainable Development of the Arctic, the concept of bioecological risk factors has been explained for the first time. They cover all types of human interaction with organisms involved in natural selection and the products of their vital activity that can affect human health and well-being – the most important components of human potential

Project Aim

Developing an international system for assessing, predicting, monitoring and managing the risks of spreading pathogens of dangerous infections and other biological threats in order to ensure the safety and health of the population of the Arctic regions

Project Objectives:

1. Substantiating the basic principles and criteria for assessing the risks of diseases and poisoning among the Arctic population associated with uncontrolled transboundary biological transport of persistent pollutants and highly virulent pathogens
2. Developing the main provisions of the system of bioecological monitoring, forecasting and risk management associated with the uncontrolled natural spread of pathogens of dangerous infections and toxic pollutants
3. Assessing the impact of observed and expected climate changes on the geography of migration routes, seasonality and spawning range of wild commercial species of birds, fish, insects and animals that may be carriers of biotoxins and pathogens of dangerous infections
4. Develop an innovative model based on the use of artificial intelligence technologies for assessing, predicting and managing the risks of morbidity and mortality of the population and preventing their socio-economic and demographic consequences as a result of cross-border and interregional transfer of pathogens of dangerous infections and toxic pollutants that can spread by biological routes

Key Findings

2020

Principles have been developed for assessing the uncontrolled spread by biological pathways of infectious and parasitic pathogens, persistent highly toxic chemical contaminants  that pose a threat to the life and health of the Arctic population and its consequences, systematization and classification of biological threats specific to the Arctic, as well as social, environmental and behavioral modifiers of their population risk levels

2021

Recommendations have been developed on the assessment and management of biological risks in the system of measures to achieve sustainable demographic development in the Arctic. A draft of Methodological recommendations Application of Bioindication Methods in the Toxicological Assessment of Food Raw Materials from Commercial Fish Species and in Assessing the Risk to Public Health in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation has been developed

2022

Recommendations for developing a unified state system of bioecological monitoring, forecasting and risk management associated with the uncontrolled natural spread of pathogens of dangerous infections and toxic pollutants in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation have been developed. (Included in the ‘Action Plan for Responding to Highly Toxic and Radioactive Substances, as Well as Dangerous Microorganisms, Entering the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation from Abroad,’ approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2468-r of August 29, 2022).

2023

For the first time, convincing scientific evidence has been obtained confirming the existence of a single source of persistent organic pollutants, pathogens of dangerous infections and parasitic invasions into the body of pregnant women living in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. It has been established that the list of generally recognized risk factors for the development of socially significant diseases that put pressure on demographic indicators in the Arctic should be supplemented by a factor associated with the consumption of highly contaminated traditional food products. As the level of contamination of traditional food products will increase due to observed and expected climate changes, the risks of new biological threats and epidemic outbreaks among the population will increase.

The Commonwealth of Persistent Organic Pollutants (pg per 1 g of lipids) in maternal blood (Chukotka AO) in positive and negative enzyme immunoassay samples for parasitic invasions. The data are presented as arithmetic averages in ng/g of lipids. ΣPCB7 includes PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153, PCB180.The group of parasites includes Opisthorchis felineus, Trichinella, Anisakis, Toxoplasma gondii and Echinococcus

Publications

“Essential and non-essential elements in whole blood and their association with diet and iron status: Results from an indigenous population study in Nenets Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Arctic”

Conferences

11th International Workshop of the Laboratory of Comparative Social Research (LCSI) "Recent advances in comparative value research":
- Session "The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Russian community" (April 6, 2022) within the framework of the XXIII YAMNC (associated event)

III International Conference Biomonitoring in the Arctic-2022 (RU) (Arkhangelsk, NARFU, October, 11-12, 2022):
- V. Chashchin Bioecological monitoring in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation: Basic principles and criteria for selecting indicators of the health risk caused by chemicals and pathogens spread by biological pathways (Plenary session report)

XXIV Yasin (April) International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development (Moscow, Russia, April 4-14, 2023):
- Special round table "The role of renewable natural resources and energy sources in the sustainable economic development of the CIS member States"