Health concerns if any?

[Wist]

I wasn't sure what category this question fits into, but here it is.
What, if any, are the most recent major health concerns of Russia and The Ukraine and what measures their government and travelers are taking? I'm doing a paper for my class and it seemed like a good idea to get some opinions from other members of this list that are in a position to know such things. Thank you.

[Shadow]

The main health risk I have encountered is alcohol. 

There are no specific precautions to be taken for travelling to Russia or Ukraine (please note not to refer to Ukraine as The Ukraine). As such health risks are what is to be expected in the US and western Europe.

[Bruce]

Old rusting / corroding pipes to start with, which leads to the chance of more metal(s) in the water than you are used to, want or need.  Questionable water purity / non-purity issues throughout a good part of the FSU as well. 

Toxic burial grounds can be anywhere.  Are they even cleaning up sites?  Dumping laws - or should I say what dumping laws.

Quality control at local markets ie. buyer beware.  Luckily, most food is organic and if you use your nose and stick out of the dive restaurants you can get quality food.  Preparation is the next issue, but thats been beat to death on other threads and tastes will vary.

Restaurant inspections? 

Air - smell the open gas lines everywhere.  Smell the pollution from factories (exhaust regulations?) etc.  Air pollution especially in big cities is a definite problem.  Additionally, you have the tail pipe factor - though cars are actually inspected, but what are the standards and are they really enforced - I think not.  Potholes everywhere do not help when you drive / are driven around.  It sure seems like cars have the right of way as well in the FSU.

Hospitals?  Standards in general need definite up grading, though individual doctors can be excellent.

Got to go to a meeting, so I'll add more later, though the biggies are above.

[Shadow]

As you see...about the same as to be expected in the USA and western Europe 

[Bruce]

Let me add a few big infectious disease concerns:

Rapidly rising AIDS throughout the FSU, especially in Ukraine.

No ability or ineffective ability to screen blood supply for all pathogens ie. Hepatitis A / B; AIDS.  Luckily, blood is normally not banked in the FSU due to a variety of problems ie. ineffective temperature controls, faulty containment, inappropriate bags etc.

New and relatively unknown antibiotic resistant strains of TB, especially in the far East of Russia.

Tickborne Encepalitis much more prevalent than the West in the South FSU regions ie. stay out of the forests in the South of Russia from May through August.

Here are some more:

Crumbling buildings throughout many cities without recent inspections.  Elevators that can go out at any time.  Think of a place with many infrastructure problems and you have the FSU in a nutshell.

No leash laws on dogs often can lead to confrontations with stray dogs.  Rabies is always a concern.

Still, we make the trek and thrive, as do most people in the FSU.  Most peoples problems which lead to the lower lifespans are accidents, alcoholism, poor choice of available foodstuffs and inadequate or low quality health care system.  Somehow most people get by the infrastructure problems, but they are a growing concern amongst the have nots, which is the majority of the population.

[Wist]

Thanks for the info everyone, it will be very useful. Shadow thanks for pointing out the "The" to me. A friend living in Kyiv explained to me that this is an old term used long ago and it should never be used now and why. Live & learn.