ETIOLOGICAL AND HYGIENIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SOIL ENVIRONMENT IN THE FORMATION OF INFECTIOUS AND NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE POPULATION OF FERGANA REGION
Keywords:
soil hygiene, medical ecology, infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases, environmental health, Fergana region.Abstract
The present study evaluates the etiological and hygienic significance of the soil environment in the formation and spread of infectious and non-infectious diseases among the population of the Fergana region (Uzbekistan). Based on sanitary-hygienic monitoring data collected between 2019 and 2024, the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil were analyzed, along with their association with morbidity indicators. A total of 240 soil samples from urban and rural areas were examined using standardized microbiological and chemical methods. The results revealed that 32.5% of samples failed to meet sanitary norms, with excess levels of nitrates and heavy metals detected in several districts. A statistically significant correlation was identified between soil contamination and the incidence rates of intestinal infections, helminthiases, allergic diseases, and endocrine disorders. The findings confirm that soil quality is a critical environmental determinant of public health and highlight the need for strengthened hygienic monitoring and preventive measures in the Fergana region.
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