ECOLOGICAL BURDEN OF LARGE CITIES AND HYGIENIC CHANGES IN BIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF URBAN POPULATIONS

the rapid expansion of large urban centers has heightened ecological pressures that significantly influence the biological markers of exposed populations, creating complex hygienic challenges that affect public health at molecular, physiological, and systemic levels. As urban environments experience intensified anthropogenic activities, including industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, waste accumulation, reduced green spaces, and altered microclimates, residents are increasingly exposed to pollutants, toxicants, bioaerosols, noise, and psychosocial stressors, all of which contribute to measurable changes in biological markers associated with hygiene, inflammation, oxidative stress, immune function, endocrine regulation, and metabolic balance. This study examines the ecological burden of large cities and evaluates its impact on hygienically relevant biological markers, employing an integrated assessment combining environmental monitoring, biomarker analysis, epidemiological profiling, and predictive modeling. Environmental datasets include air pollutants (PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, CO, VOCs), microbial contamination levels, noise exposure, water quality indicators, microclimate measurements, and urban-form metrics. Biological markers investigated include cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β), oxidative stress indicators (MDA, 8-OHdG), heavy-metal accumulation (Pb, Cd, Hg), microbiome diversity indices, epigenetic methylation patterns, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The findings demonstrate that populations living in areas with high ecological loads exhibit significant alterations in inflammatory, endocrine, metabolic, and immunological biomarkers compared to those in less polluted or suburban regions. Predictive modeling indicates that biomarker deviations closely correlate with cumulative ecological exposure, lifestyle factors, and spatial distribution of urban stressors. The study proposes a hygiene-oriented biomonitoring framework and adaptive public-health strategies to mitigate the physiological impact of urban ecological burdens. Ultimately, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of how environmental pressures in large cities translate into measurable biological responses, highlighting the need for integrated hygienic policies to protect the health of urban populations.