The study was initiated because of the public fear of adverse reproductive
health and pregnancy outcomes in the Russian-Norwegian border zone in the vicinity of the
nickel producing industry in the Kola Peninsula. The original objective was to assess health
conditions of delivering women and their outcomes in the general population in the Russian-
Norwegian arctic area, including assessment of essential and toxic elements. In the course of
the study, the health of an occupationally exposed population of female nickel industry
workers and children living in the Kola Peninsula also became an important issue. Material:
In the period April 1994 - June 1994 maternal information, delivery information, as well as
maternal and neonatal blood and urine samples, were collected for approximately 50
deliveries in each of the cities Arkhangelsk, Nikel, and Monchegorsk in Russia; the three
Norwegian study centers were Kirkenes, Hammerfest and Bergen
