[Human health as indicator of ecological risk in industrial regions]

The paper discusses the data available in the literature and the author's own findings which show the close relationship between the unfavorable ecological situation in Siberia and the health indices of the population and its different groups. It outlines the ideas of the indicative and ecological dependence of abnormalities, whose comparative assessment and parameter changes make it possible to range the areas by the anthropo-ecological risks. It forwards a concept of the foci of socioecological stress, which forms around large-scale industrial enterprises and cities. A basic conclusion is made that the health status is an indicator of the ecological risk of regions and a limiting factor of the socioeconomic development of areas.