[Genetic studies in environmental hygiene]

Genetic studies in environmental hygiene have been conducted in Russia since approximately 1965 and chiefly represented by those performed at the A. N. Sysin Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environment Hygiene in three areas: evaluation of the mutagenic activity of individual chemical compounds; identification of the summary mutagenic activity of chemical pollutants in the environmental objects; and that of mutagenic factors during examination of a population. At present, a system harmonized with international approaches has been elaborated to evaluate the genetic safety of various environmental factors; a methodology has been developed to evaluate the organ specificity of enotoxic activity of chemical compounds; a highly informative karyological analysis of different cells and tissues has been put into practice. The Institute has initiated wide investigations to assess individual genetic predisposition or resistance of human beings to environmental factors and to the development of pathological conditions, multifactorial diseases. Problems of genetic studies in hygiene are defined and prospects for further development outlined.