A group of scientists from Tomsk State University analyzed the diversity of sources and the quality of drinking water available to the indigenous population of the Arctic zone of Western Siberia, the press service of the university reported.
A study by scientists, the results of which they presented in the article "Problems of changing water supply sources for human well-being in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia", found that the consumption of river water by the population in this area carries a high risk to health.
The analysis was carried out according to surveys and medical examinations. In 2012, 2014-2019 and 2022, 552 local residents of the Arctic zone of Western Siberia living in the interfluve of the Ob, Nadym, Taz and Yenisei, mainly in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, took part in the surveys.
According to previous studies of the sanitary and chemical state of drinking water sources, it was found that the consumption of river water in this area is associated with a high risk to health due to the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, manganese, iron) in it.
Consumption of melted snow water and melted ice in winter, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, is not very useful because of the low concentrations of necessary trace elements in such water.
However, this disadvantage was compensated by the use of traditional indigenous food - venison, fish and other local products, which contain trace elements of the above metals. This demonstrates the adaptation of the population to the harsh climatic conditions of the Arctic.
Scientists also came to the conclusion that pollution of water sources, inefficient primary preparation of water consumed from them plus the increasing impact of climate change require appropriate actions to provide the population, including nomadic rural, with safe drinking water to preserve their health, rossaprimavera.ru reported.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
