Medical and sociological study of public health in relation to the perception of ambient air pollution by odorous substances

Introduction. The state of health of residents in Glazov (Udmurt Republic) was studied in relation to the perception of odours present in the ambient air. This region is part of the ten subjects of the Russian Federation with the highest level of influence of a complex of sanitary and hygienic factors on the health of the population.

Material and methods. The analysis and assessment of the health status in the adult population of Glazov and the Udmurt Republic were carried out according to official data of the state forms of medical statistics (form No. 12) for 2016-2020 years. A depersonalized survey of the population in Glazov was conducted using a questionnaire specially adapted to the conditions of the city, which included questions aimed at assessing the health status in respondents (including the presence of diagnosed diseases), as well as their perception of odours present in the ambient air.

Results. Based on the analysis of morbidity, the priority pathologies for this city are respiratory diseases, the average annual level of which exceeds the similar indicator for the Udmurt Republic by 1.3 times. In addition, the adult morbidity rate of digestive diseases in Glazov is almost twice higher than in the Udmurt Republic. Sociological studies have shown a pronounced connection between the proportion of persons diagnosed with these pathologies and the perception of the frequency of odours, as well as their intensity and degree of annoyance by odours present in the ambient air.

Research limitations. The main limitation of the study is the incomplete correspondence of the classification of diseases in the forms of state medical statistics and in the questionnaire for the survey of the population, which makes it difficult to quantify the data obtained.

Conclusion. The presence of odours in the ambient air, which can cause the “annoyance” response in the population, is one of the most important indicators of the possible presence of harmful impurities in the atmosphere, which can lead to an increase in the morbidity level in residents in the areas of placement of enterprises-sources of odours.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved at the meeting of the local ethical committee of the Centre for Strategic Planning of the Federal medical biological agency of Russia (Protocol No. 01/10/21 dated 25.10.2021). All participants of the sociological survey provided their voluntary informed consent to participate in the study.

Contribution of the authors:
Goshin M.E. — concept and design of research, collection and processing of material, statistical data processing, writing of text, compilation of a list of references;
Sabirova Z.F. — collection and processing of material, editing;
Budarina O.V. — collection and processing of material, editing;
Skovronskaya S.A. — collection and processing of material, statistical data processing.
ZAll authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Acknowledgment. The study was carried out within the framework of State task No. 121090800066-9.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: February 29, 2024 / Accepted: May 30, 2024 / Published: April 30, 2025

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