Abstract
The A d Sea has been getting sn~allcr since late 1960s.Residents living nearby complain of health problems.We iwestigated the health status of school children living in two districts, clcxe to the Sea; K-district and abut 500 hn east; 2-district in Kazald~stc?~~ in the summer of 2000.Total subjects were 383 in K-district and 432 in Z-districts.Socioeconomic conditions were better in 2-district.Body mass index (BMI) was not sigiificalltly diferent between the two diskicts.Prevalence of amnia was higher in K (62.0%) thai in % (38.6%) (p.:O.001).As to the general health status: the most prevalent recent symptom was headache (l 3.9% in K and 9.0% in Z) followed by diarrhea (1 1.3% in K and 5.6% in Z), cough (8.1 % in K and 4.6% in Z) and abdominal pain (8.1% in K and 3.9% in Z). in renal hnction tests, prevalence of abnormd beta-2microglobulin excretion (>660~1g/g creatinine) \VZE 16% in K and 9% in Z: and that of NAG (>13uni'dg creatinjne) was 4% in I< and 3% in Z. Various kinds of element concentrations were determined.Mean values of sodium aid chloride in plasma were significantly l~igber in IC than in Z. Nuinkr of subjects having high value of sodium c>147 mEqll) was 3 1 .X% in l< and 1 1.4?6 in %.