The purpose of this research was to study the particularities of the immune status of workers in the field of chrysotile asbestos production, depending on their work experience and professional risk of being affected by chrysotile dust. The research covered 125 men, who were workers at the only enterprise dealing with the extraction and beneficiation of chrysotile ores in Kazakhstan. Indicants of cell immunity were detected by flow cytometry; IgA, IgM, and IgG were detected by a multiplex immunological assay. It was found that, among workers impacted by chrysotile asbestos for more than 15 years, compared with individuals who were not impacted by asbestos dust, the level of CD3+ T-cells was decreased (t = −8.76, p < 0.001), as well as the number of CD4+ T-cells (U = 1246.0, p < 0.001). Moreover, CD8+ T-cells increased (t = 5.308, p = 0.001), and neutrophil phagocytic activity also increased, by 1.2 times (U = 305.5, p < 0.001). It was found that working under the condition of professional contact with chrysotile asbestos dust modifies the indicants of humoral immunity, IgA, IgM, and IgG, to a lesser extent than those of cellular immunity.

Background. It is necessary to monitor the health disorders of healthcare practitioners exposed to a complex of occupational hazards to optimize their activities and substantiation of preventive health measures. The purpose of the study was the hygienic assessment of occupational hazards, analysis of data on self-assessment of the state of health (SASH questionnaire) among healthcare practitioners (MRI diagnostics specialists, ultrasound diagnostics specialists, and ophthalmologists, as a control group) exposed to nonionizing radiation, ultrasound, and noise. Materials and Methods. An analysis of hygienic parameters of the working environment (workplace) and questionnaire data of healthcare practitioners were carried out. The number of illnesses and absences from work, the level of quality of life, the level of depression, and the self-assessment of the state of health were evaluated according to the questionnaire. Results. An analysis of workloads made it possible to rank the severity and intensity of labor. Health disorders (according to the self-assessment of the state of health), the number of absences from work due to illness, an increase in complaints and level of depression, and a decrease in the level of quality of life were corresponded to the severity of labor. It was revealed that healthcare practitioners were exposed to a number of hazards during their work (above the threshold limit value (TLV)), which caused an increase in health disorders. Conclusions. During the organization of workplace ergonomics and implementation of preventive measures directed to maintaining health and early diagnosis of diseases, one should take into account the hygienic indicators of the working environment that exceed TLV, the results of self-assessment of the state of health (complaints) and morbidity of healthcare practitioners, the level of quality of life and the level of depression.

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of prolonged occupational exposure to chrysotile asbestos on the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract and the levels of surfactant protein D (SP-D) in female workers. Methods: Buccal epithelial cell samples were collected from 40 workers at JSC “Kostanay Minerals”, fixed using the May–Grünwald method, and stained with the Romanowsky–Giemsa technique. SP-D levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Workers exposed to asbestos dust exhibited a significant increase in cytological abnormalities and higher SP-D levels compared to the control group. Conclusion: Prolonged exposure to chrysotile-containing dust leads to degenerative changes in upper respiratory tract epithelial cells, characterized by cytological and cytogenetic abnormalities, alongside elevated SP-D levels, highlighting the need for preventive health measures.

Background: Occupational health risk assessment in industrial enterprises has traditionally focused on physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards, while psychosocial working conditions have often been assessed separately from routine occupational surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine whether integrating working conditions, the psychosocial work environment, occupational stress, and temporary disability indicators provide a more informative health risk profile in an industrial setting. Methods: An analytical observational study was conducted at a mining and processing enterprise in Kazakhstan. This study used three data sources: 5429 temporary disability records for 2020–2024, workplace assessments covering 188 job positions, and psychosocial survey data from 392 employees. Occupational stress was evaluated in annual PSS-25 screening waves conducted in 2023 (n = 133), 2024 (n = 133), and 2025 (n = 134). The author-developed psychosocial questionnaire showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.82). Results: During the five-year period, 4971 eligible temporary disability episodes and 61,472 lost workdays were recorded. Psychosocial profiles were less favorable in production units than in administration, and mean PSS-25 values remained relatively stable across the years. The Integral Index of Working Conditions (Iwc) was positively associated with temporary disability indicators and occupational stress, whereas the Integral Health Index (Ihr) was inversely associated with psychosocial well-being. Conclusions: The findings suggest that occupational risk assessment remains incomplete when psychosocial factors are excluded or treated separately. Integrating hygienic, psychosocial, stress-related, and medical-statistical indicators may improve the prioritization of preventive measures and support healthier workplace management in industrial enterprises.

The article discusses environmental and industrial risks caused by the activities of various industrial enterprises. It highlights the significant proportion of workers engaged in hazardous working conditions and the negative impact of polluted environments on public health. A comprehensive prevention model is proposed. The need for a specialized scientific and methodological center is substantiated.

Karaganda, one of the most heavily polluted industrial cities worldwide, experiences severe air quality challenges due to emissions from coal mining, metallurgical industry and coal-fired power plants. This study investigates the influence of meteorological parameters on PM₂.₅ concentrations and associated air pollution episodes in Karaganda, Central Kazakhstan, using a monthly dataset spanning 2017–2024. The meteorological parameters including temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), atmospheric pressure (hPa), wind speed (m/s) and pollutant concentrations including suspended particulate matter (dust, mg/m³), PM₂.₅ (mg/m³), PM₁₀ (mg/m³), sulfur dioxide (SO₂, mg/m³), carbon monoxide (CO, mg/m³), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂, mg/m³), ozone (O₃, mg/m³), ammonia (NH₃, mg/m³), and formaldehyde (HCHO, mg/m³) were analyzed to explore meteorology-driven variability in air pollution. Time series analyses and correlation assessments were conducted, and three complementary regression approaches, Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Random Forest Regression, and Gradient Boosting via LightGBM were applied to robustly characterize the relationships between meteorological conditions and PM₂.₅ levels. Results indicate persistently high pollution levels, with exceedances of daily average concentrations observed for PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, dust, phenol, formaldehyde, and ozone, with PM₂.₅ showing the most pronounced exceedances. Air pollution episodes were particularly severe during the cold season, driven by emissions from thermal power plants and residential heating. Multi-year trends revealed increasing occurrences of high-concentration events, primarily due to PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, SO₂, and CO, highlighting the significant contribution of industrial and energy-related emissions to the urban atmosphere. Meteorological conditions, particularly calm or low-wind periods (0–3 m/s), further exacerbated pollutant accumulation during episode periods, with 106 such days recorded in 2024 alone. These findings underscore the critical role of both emission sources and weather conditions in shaping air quality in Karaganda and provide a basis for targeted mitigation strategies. Key words: Karaganda, PM₂.₅, meteorological parameters, air pollution episodes