Geochemical specification of population hair in Tomsk oblast and other regions (n – number of samples)

Region

Geochemical series

Russia

Tomsk oblast (N= 538)

Na 63

Fe 14

Sm 12

Sc 11

Br 8

Cr 7

La 5

Ca 4,5

Au 3

Co 2,3

Ag 2,3

Ce 2,2

Sb 1,9

Cheljabinsk oblast (N= 44)

Na 47

Sm 8

Ca 3,5

Co 2,3

La 2

Au 1,2

Br 1,2

Sb 1,1

Irkutsk oblast (N= 36)

Na 42

Br 4

Cr 3,5

Ca 3

Se 2,1

Fe 2

Au 1,5

Ag 1,2

La 1,1

Pavlodar, Kazakhstan (N= 120)

Ag 27

Na 23

Au 5

Br 2,7

Ca 2,3

Sm 2

Se 1,5

Rb 1,1

It was assumed that the concentration of most elements would increase from zone 1 to zone 5. However, such a tendency was characteristic only for the following elements- Co, La, U, and, in some cases - Cr, Sc. Thus, it can be stated that their occurrences in the environment and human organism are technogenic sources. For example, there is a high Au content level in the hair of those children living in oil regions. In general, a high Na, Sb, Ag, Yb content in hair is characteristic for Tomsk oblast.

Concentration of radioactive elements (U, Th) is found in the hair of those children living in the populated areas located in the north-eastern zone of the Siberian Chemical Plant (Fig. 3). Another significant fact is that a high content of Fe, Sc, Co and rare earth elements La, Sm was found in the hair of those living in this territory.

Fig. 2. Specific distribution of macro- and micro elements (mg/kg, dry weight) in Tomsk oblast, based on data of microelement content in children hair. 1) area with high extent of technogenic environment transformations; (2) regions with highly- developed petroleum production; (3) Tomsk region; (4) Seversk; (5) populated areas located in the north-eastern direction from the Siberian Chemical Plant (zone of material transport by wind)

Fig. 3. Specific distribution rare earth and radioactive elements (mg/kg, dry weight) in Tomsk oblast, based on data of microelement content in children hair. 1) area with high extent of technogenic environment transformations; (2) regions with highly- developed petroleum production; (3) Tomsk region; (4) Seversk; (5) populated areas located in the north-eastern direction from the Siberian Chemical Plant (zone of material transport by wind)

Seversk is located in the closed zone of the Siberian Chemical Plant. It was established that there is a high Lu, Ce content in the hair of the children living here, as well as, a significantly high level of U. These facts can be correlated to already existing research results (Rikhvanov L.P., et al., 2008). Another specific feature is the high bromine content in the hair. The concentration coefficients of investigated elements in hair of the children living in Seversk can be considered as relatively average in comparison to the stated level in Tomsk oblast (Table 5). The geochemical series include 12 elements, beginning with Br and Ce. The U content in the children hair is twice higher than the average level in Tomsk oblast.

Thus, the research data presented in this paper reflect the element content level in the hair of the children living in Tomsk oblast. In comparison to other regions and territories (Irkutsk oblast, Cheljabinsk oblast and Kazakhstan) Tomsk region shows its own specific features.

Table 5.

Geochemical characteristic of hair (N = 9)

	Concentration coefficient
Seversk	Br 10 – Ce 3,9 – Cr 2 – Sm 1,9 – U 2 – Yb 1,7 – Au 1,7 – Fe 1,5 – Co 1,5 – La 1,4 – Hf 1,4 – Sc 1,2

It was established that the technogenic factors significantly influence the element content in hair of the children living in the Tomsk region. The geochemical element spectrum in the hair is similar in those territories with natural uranium anomalies (Irkutsk oblast, Kazakhstan) or existing nuclear-fuel cycle plants (Tomsk oblast, Cheljabinsk oblast). At the same time, these regions are characteristic of high uranium concentrations and low Th / U coefficients. Based on the zoning division of Tomsk oblast (5 zones in all), specific natural-technogenic factors affecting the population were established and which, in its turn, is found in the element content of children hair. The sources of such an influence are the nuclear-fuel cycle plants, petroleum refineries, different boiler installations, as well as, petroleum production facilities.