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 PM2.5 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.

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Background: Thiodiacetic acid (TDAA) is the main metabolite of vinyl chloride (VC) and 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) and its urinary level is correlated with the level of exposure to these chemicals. Objective: To study dynamics of the excretion of TDAA into urine of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production workers. Methods: The study sample consisted of 65 workers of VC and PVC divisions with various time intervals following exposure to the chemicals, 10 shift workers from PVC division, and 34 workers not exposed to the chemicals (control group). Analysis of urinary TDAA was carried out with gas chromatography with mass-selective detector. Results: The concentrations of TDAA in the urine of workers of the VC division and in group of primary occupations who had a high level of exposure to the chemicals, were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of workers of the PVC production division and group of auxiliary professions. The highest levels of TDAA in the urine of workers were found at the beginning of the next shift and during a long break, 24–48 hours after the cessation of the exposure. Conclusion: When conducting biomonitoring studies in PVC production workers, the optimal time for collecting urine samples is at the beginning of the next shift or during a long rest, 24–48 hours after the exposure.