Particular concern at the present stage is the health effects of wildfires’ smoke. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of paternal biomass-smoke exposure on offspring’s behavior and cognitive abilities. Male rats were exposed to biomass smoke for four hours/day, five days/week, for four weeks. Average concentration of carbon monoxide and particulate matter of 2.5 μm PM_2.5 in the chamber during exposure were 28.7 ± 5.3 mg/m³ and 1.9 ± 0.5 mg/m³, respectively. At the same time, high concentrations of furfural and acetaldehyde were detected in the air environment of the exposure chambers. Offspring was obtained by mating of experimental males with untreated females, immediately after the end of the exposure and after 60 days (long-term period). Offspring were tested by using the Morris water maze and open field at three months of age. Male and female offspring born by mating immediately after exposure demonstrated decreased exploratory behavior, locomotor activity, and spatial navigation, as well as increased anxiety levels. Locomotor and exploratory activity in rats of both sexes from progeny obtained after long-term exposure to smoke had no statistically significant differences when compared to the control; however, the females showed a high level of anxiety and impaired cognitive functions. The recovery period after biomass-smoke intoxication, comparable in duration of spermatogenesis in rats, was an important factor in reducing the risk of developing central nervous system (CNS) disorders in offspring.

This paper reports the synthesis of nanocomposites of selenium and tellurium on a polymer matrix: arabinogalactan. Their physicochemical and biological properties are presented in detail. Studies of...

Introduction. The study of the mechanisms of action of combustion products released during natural fires on the body and the development of appropriate preventive measures is an actual hygienic problem at the present stage. Material and methods. Experimental modeling of landscape fire was carried out for 7 days, 4 hours per day. Forest fuel, which is a living ground cover and plant residues, was used as a combustible substrate. The concentration of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, furfural, and acetaldehyde was determined in the exposure chamber, the general qualitative composition of air and the target qualitative analysis for volatile aldehydes and ketones were carried out. After exposure rat behavior was observed through an open field test and Morris water maze, histological studies of brain tissue were done. Results. During the experiment changes in the structure of the behavior of white rats exposed to smoke were established to be characterized by a decrease in motor and exploratory activity, and an increase in the level of anxiety in females was also observed. When testing in the water maze of Morris revealed violations of spatial memory and the ability to navigational learning. Histological examination of the cerebral cortex in animals of the experimental groups revealed multiple foci of neuronophagy, expansion of perivascular spaces, and the development of glial cell replacement hyperplasia was noted. Conclusion. The results indicate the presence of a neurotoxic effect of combustion products, characterized by a decrease in the motor activity of animals, increased anxiety and impaired memory processes, as well as morphological changes in the brain tissue of white rats. However, in order to reveal the role of the impact of a complex of substances released during forest fires, their contribution to morphological and functional disorders, furthermore in-depth studies are required.

The bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series «Biology. Ecology»