Risques sanitaires en Arctique russe

Abstract

The Russian Arctic is the most populated and the most industrial region of the circumpolar region. Although the geographical diversity of the region makes an overall approach difficult, the inhabitants share exposure to extremely harsh natural conditions and experience of a socioeconomic environment recently entered into modernity. This article proposes a discussion on health risk in the Russian Arctic, focussing on three concepts of risk : physical determinism, vulnerability and resilience.The health status of polar populations is lower than the health status enjoyed by non-polar populations. However, the health transition observed suggest that health status is not solely determined by physical conditions. The multilevel Russian crisis has weakened both individuals and groups, and has damaged their health. These effects are amplified by characteristics associated with northerness, namely lower temperature, lower population densities and remoteness. Would high latitudes exacerbate health risks of modern society ? The boreal economy relies heavily on industrial sector, whose development will continue in future. Occupational health therefore appears as a major health issue in Russia, namely as a result of the incoming of workers from the south, not used to the conditions of the north, and of the safety of workplaces that is often below standards. Finally, exposure to, and ingestion of, pollutants as well as hazardous substance use (drug and alcohol) are other major issues of environmental health ; in addition, the indirect health effects of exposure to cold weather are poorly known.

Keywords

• Arctic
• Russia
• health
• risk
• work
• indigenous