These results are rarely available abroad because they were previously considered to be state secrets. Only brief summaries are published in Russian.
Most investigations are descriptive and focus on adverse effects on children's health.
We have analyzed the results of over 100 studies, comparing different health indicators for children residing in polluted and in relatively uncontaminated areas of the same city or region. The bronchial asthma study revealed that the main risk factor for children in Moscow is nitrogen oxide from transportation exhaust systems. There is also an elevated risk of birth defects in the most contaminated areas of Moscow. Analysis of environmental monitoring studies reveals that most of this have focused on the accumulation of heavy metals in children's hair and PCBs in maternal milk.