Introduction. The combat environment has determined the probability of toxicants’ using in the special military operation zone, with respect to conventional restrictions and situational availability of materials and chemicals for the dispersion devices’ loading. The importance of analytical indication of chemical products in the biological environment of the affected determines, on the one hand, the accuracy of diagnosis and, as a result, the adequacy of the prescribed therapy, and on the other hand, dictates the need to obtain irrefutable information about new tactics of using toxic chemicals as an alternative to chemical weapons.

Material and methods. Analytical studies of samples, including those obtained by the dried blood spot method, collected by medical specialists in outbreaks during the organization of medical evacuation and in first-level medical institutions, were conducted to characterize the spectrum of chemical safety threats.

Results. The spectrum of adverse chemical factors is associated with the possibility of implementation through criminal activity, as well as the use of unmanned gas-release and aerosol-generation vehicles. The threat of neurotropic agents is illustrated by the cannabinoids’ use consisting of spices, substances of bioactive cardiotropic agents, soluble metal salts, including uranium, phosphothermite mixtures of abnormally detonated ammunitions. The greatest risk of using as means of destruction is realized by the police riot control supplies and irritants from among the compounds of industrial synthesis and solvents. The formation patterns of delayed tracheobronchial tree and lung tissue lesions caused by corrosive substances were associated with aerodynamic properties of the latter formulated into dry aerosols produced by explosive or knockout (propulsive?) generation from drones. The risks of natural poison threat materializing have been identified through the example of types A and B botulinum toxins but do not exclude extract using of poisonous plants growing on the territory of the warring parties.

Limitations. Analytical studies of samples do not apply to environmental objects, and the methodological possibilities of their interpretation are limited by the chemical nature of the analyte.

Conclusion. The spectrum of toxicants that had been used for several years of military confrontation reflected the possibilities of their situational production and use for aerosol-generation or gas-release devices’ loading. It determines the aspects of providing medical care to the victims in the toxicogenic phase of intoxication.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was performed in compliance with the ethical principles of conducting medical research with the participation of people as subjects of research in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association “Ethical Principles of conducting Scientific medical research with human participation” as amended in 2013 and the “Rules of Clinical Practice in the Russian Federation”, approved by Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 266 dated 06/19/2003. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Author’s contribution:
Chepur S.V. – the concept and design of the study, writing text, editing;
Nikiforov A.S., Tsoi D.V. – analytical studies of biological media and clothing items;
Yudin M.A., Myasnikov V.A., Tyunin M.A. – systematization and statistical processing of clinical material.
All co-authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: September 9, 2024 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. We have already conducted successful experimental testing of bioprophylactic complexes increasing the body resistance to the general toxic, cytotoxic and/or genotoxic effects of heavy metal nanoparticles at the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection of Industrial Workers. At the same time, both our findings on specific neurotoxic effects of lead nanoparticles and data from the world literature necessitate the development and testing of a bioprophylactic complex aimed at reducing dysfunction of the nervous system.

Objective. Development and experimental testing of a bioprophylactic complex aimed at increasing the body resistance to neurotoxic effects of lead oxide nanoparticles (PbO NPs).

Material and method. The objects of the study were outbred female albino rats with the initial body weight of about 270 g, 14 animals per group. Inhalation exposure was simulated using PbO NPs of 18.2 ± 4.2 nm in size at a concentration of 1.55 ± 0.06 mg/m³, 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

Results. The analysis of data obtained during the assessment of post-exposure behavioral reactions of the rodents revealed a statistical increase in the number of squares crossed, head-dipping and rearing behaviors. The histomorphometric assessment of some structures of the rat brain showed a significant decrease in the thickness of the cerebellar cortex in the group of animals exposed to PbO NPs. In the preparations of the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum of the exposed rats, we observed a statistical increase in the number of degenerated neurons and a tendency towards an increase in the number of anucleate neurons. At the same time, in the group administered the bioprophylactic complex (hereinafter referred to as BPC) parallel to PbO NP inhalation exposure, similar indicators tended towards the control values, thus indicating mitigation of the toxic effect by bioprophylactic components.

Limitations. The study did not investigate the effects of lead oxide PM on male rats of similar age and weight. Sex differences in the described toxic effects of lead oxide PM and the protective effects of bioprophylaxis were not assessed.

Conclusion. The bioprotective complex mitigated neurotoxic effects of inhalation exposure to lead nanoparticles on the experimental animals.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was carried out in accordance with the “International guiding principles for biomedical research involving animals” (the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences, the International Council For Laboratory Animal Science, 2012). The work was approved by the Local Independent Ethics Committee of the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection of Industrial Workers is a Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor (Protocol No. 5 dated 16.10.2023).

Author contributions:
Minigalieva I.A. – scientific editing;
Nikogosyan K.M. – conducting the experiment, writing the text;
Sutunkova M.P. – consulting, scientific editing;
Kungurtseva A.K. – conducting the experiment, histologic examination;
Petrunina E.M. – histologic examination;
Bateneva V.A. – conducting the experiment, writing the text.
All co-authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Accepted: September 27, 2024 / Revised: November 5, 2024 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. The toxic effect of β-amanitine is associated with acute cerebral insufficiency, which causes the severity of the condition in the unfavorable course of phalloidin syndrome.

The aim of the research was to experimentally study the dynamics of bioelectric activity of the cerebral cortex of guinea pigs with beta-amanitine-induced hepatic encephalopathy.

Material and methods. The study was performed on 13 guinea pigs with 9-electrode epidural electrocorticographic sensors implanted in the skull. High purity β-amanitin was administered intraperitoneally to animals at a dose of 3 LD₅₀ (2.7 mg/kg). The bioelectric activity of the brain was evaluated daily in dynamics by means of logical and spectral analysis of electrocorticograms. Pathomorphological macro- and microscopic examination of dead animals was performed.

Results. A model of extremely severe poisoning of guinea pigs with 3 LD₅₀ of β-amanitin with a median life expectancy of 4.5 days, a 100% probability of terminal coma and death was obtained. General atrophy was observed at the autopsy, and brain edema and liver necrosis were observed at microscopy. Electrocorticographic monitoring revealed variants of normal brain activity in guinea pigs. After administration of β-amanitin, a stepwise acceleration process was established, followed by a slowdown in brain activity to a persistent rigid theta rhythm, its further suppression with the formation of decay patterns. The presence of waves of triphase morphology characteristic of hepatargy was revealed, which were recorded, as a rule, 2–3 days after the start of the experiment. In spectral analysis, the decrease in the dominant frequency and spectral edge of the rhythm began on day 1 of intoxication, reaching a fourfold drop on day 5 in comparison with the background.

Limitations. Changes in the electrical activity of the animals cortex were analyzed only after a single administration of β-amanitin at a dose of 3 LD₅₀: the data obtained may differ under other experimental conditions.

Conclusion. Electrocorticography is suitable for objectification of hepatargy in guinea pigs with a high translational potential for extrapolating data to humans. Characteristic changes in severe encephalopathy due to β-amanitin intoxication have been established.

Compliance with ethical standards. The experimental study was approved by an independent committee at the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Authors’ contribution:
Khovpachev A.A., Skiba Ya.B., Vakhviyainen M.S. – operations on guinea pigs, conducting research, collecting and processing material, writing the text;
Ivanov I.M., Lutsyk M.A. – data analysis, editing;
Basharin V.A. – concept, design and organization of research, editing.
All co–authors are responsible for approving the final version of the article and ensuring the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Accepted: October 12, 2024 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Pesticides recommended for use in agriculture must undergo a comprehensive toxicological and hygienic study, which is the basis for preventing their adverse effects on human and animal health, as well as on the sanitary state of the environment.

The purpose of the research is to study the effect of a new technical product of the chloroacetamide class on the reproductive function of laboratory animals (rats), to establish an inactive dose and hazard class.

Material and methods. Studies on the effects of a new technical product of the chloroacetamide class (TPC) were conducted in the vivarium of the F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene on the reproductive function of warm-blooded animals (rats, males and females). Previously, studies in this volume have not been conducted.

Results. In the study of reproductive toxicity, it was revealed that the no observed effect level (NOEL) of a new TPC for the parent generation and their offspring was set at the level of – 1/27 of LD₅₀.

Limitations. Related to the analysis of the results of experimental data on the study of the reproductive toxicity of the pesticide without taking into account the effects of embryotoxic and teratogenic effects on the body of warm-blooded (rats) as a result of exposure to a new technical product of the chloroacetamide class.

Conclusion. According to the “Hygienic classification of pesticides and agrochemicals according to the hazard class” (Methodological recommendations No. 1.2.0235–211 of 02/15/2021) on reproductive toxicity to the body of warm-blooded (rats), the new TPC refers to low-hazard compounds (hazard class 4).

Compliance with ethical standards. Compliance with ethical standards: The study was approved by the commission of the Ethics Committee of the F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene (protocol No. 11 dated 12.10.2021).

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The author declares no conflict of interest.

Accepted: February 9, 2024 / Revised: February 15, 2024 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Chemical pollutants in food affect human health, which is becoming a very serious health problem and corresponds to the third UN Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to significantly reduce diseases caused by chemical pollution by 2030.

The purpose of the study was to identify, according to the scientific literature, priority problems of contamination of food products with chemical contaminants, which are currently of scientific and practical importance, and to outline ways to solve them.

Material and methods. A scientific review of studies in Russian and English was carried out using the information portals eLIBRARY.ru, Science Direct, PubMed and Scopus. The search was conducted using the keywords “current problems of chemical food safety”, “chemical contaminants of food”, “pesticides”, “nitrates”, “mycotoxins”, “persistent organic pollutants”, “phycotoxins”, “new food source”.

Results. It has been established that the current problems of chemical safety of food products include their contamination with pesticide residues, nitrites and nitrates, mycotoxins, toxic elements, persistent organic pollutants. One of the problems is the detection and identification of emergent and modified (masked) mycotoxins. Seafood may contain dangerous substances – phycotoxins. Phycotoxins can cause both acute poisoning and long-term negative effects, including carcinogenic. Food packaging can also be a source of contamination of food products. Microplastics should be considered as a new growing contaminant of food products. The emergence of new types of food represents a modern problem of chemical safety. The problem of falsification and detection of substances not declared in the labeling is still relevant.

Conclusions. Ensuring the chemical safety of food products can be achieved by improving the regulatory and methodological framework for assessing the safety and quality control of food products. This also includes monitoring the contamination of food raw materials and food products with chemical contaminants, assessing the risk of exposure to new contaminants and developing highly sensitive methods for their detection and identification, including rapid testing.

Limitations. The study is limited to the study of open literature sources when describing problems related to chemical safety of food products.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Аuthors’ сontribution:
Rusakov V.N. – the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, writing text; editing;
Setko A.G. – writing text; editing;
Nemova O.A. – editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and the approval of the final version of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Accepted: October 15, 2024 / Revised: February 28, 2025 / Accepted: February 28, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Alcohol poisoning is an important social and medical problem. The greatest difficulties arise in poisoning by alcohols, the toxicity of which increases during their biotransformation in the body.

Material and methods. Literature sources abstracted in PubMed, Scopus, and Russian Science Citation Index bibliographic databases served as the material for analysis.

Results. It is shown that methanol and ethylene glycol remain one of the causes of mass poisoning with severe consequences in the XXI century. Mass poisonings with methanol are registered in different countries of the world almost annually and, as a rule, are accompanied by high lethality. Ethylene glycol, which unscrupulous manufacturers used in the composition of a number of medicines, was the cause of several mass poisonings of children. Legislative and regulatory documents of different countries limiting the use of methanol and ethylene glycol in the production of industrial and commercial products are given. Toxicological characterization of methanol and ethylene glycol, information about their toxicity, toxicokinetics, biotransformation in the body is given. It is shown that the mechanism of toxic effect of methanol is primarily associated with its toxic metabolites – formaldehyde and formic acid. The toxic effect of ethylene glycol is also determined by the products of its metabolism – glycol aldehyde, glyoxal, glycolic and glyoxylic acids. Methanol and ethylene glycol metabolites are capable of damaging cells, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, inducing lipid peroxidation processes, depleting the glutathione system, which leads to the development of disorders in many biochemical systems.

Limitations. The review is based on a study of 56 literature sources. 55 sources were published from 2001 to 2024, which is a fairly reference sample. In addition, it should be noted the indisputable value of the 1904 year source as a starting point for investigating the causes and consequences of methyl alcohol intoxication.

Conclusion. Poisoning with methanol and ethylene glycol is characterized by high mortality and severe intoxication due to toxic metabolites formed during metabolism.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a conclusion from the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Authors’ contributions:
Zyukina D.A. – collection of material in bibliographic databases, processing and analysis of the material, writing the text;
Strelova O.Yu. – analysis of the material, editing;
Grebenyuk A.N. – concept and design of research, analysis of the material, editing.
All co-authors are responsible for approving the final version of the article and ensuring the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Funding. The study had no financial support.

Accepted: December 20, 2024 / Revised: February 20, 2025 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. In order to ensure the safety of workers employed in the production of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, its maximum allowable concentration in the air of the working area was scientifically substantiated at the level of 5 mg/m³ (aerosol, hazard class 3) and approved in accordance with the established procedure. For the purpose of production control and supervisory activities, it became necessary to substantiate its hygienic standards in the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the threshold of acute inhalation with the subsequent justification of the indicative safe exposure level.

Materials and methods. Experimental studies on the establishment of the the threshold of acute inhalation action as well as justification of the indicative safe exposure level were carried out in accordance with approved methodological documents (GOST 32542–2013, MU No. 2630–82).

Results. Based on transient changes in physiological, hematological and biochemical parameters of rats after 2 hours inhalation followed by their recovery after 24 hours, it was concluded that the threshold of acute inhalation action is above the maximum achievable concentration level of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (9000 mg/m³). As a hygienic standard in the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements for 2-ethylhexanoic acid, the of the indicative safe exposure level of 0.05 mg/m³ has been scientifically substantiated using calculation methods.

Conclusion. An indicative safe exposure level for 2-ethylhexanoic acid was scientifically substantiated at the level of 0.05 mg/m³. The recommended value is provided by the analytical control method MUK 4.1.4026–24 “Measurement of the mass concentration of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in the air of the working area, the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements by capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection”, developed by the F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene of Rospotrebnadzor (limits of determination in the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements: 0.008–0.08 mg/m³ without dilution; 0.008–4.0 mg/m³, taking into account dilution by 50 times), approved by the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation A.Yu. Popova on May 31, 2024.

Limitations. Scientific substantiation of the indicative safe exposure level of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements has been pertormed using only calculation methods.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the bioethical commission of the F.F. Erisman Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene of the Rospotrebnadzor.

Author contribution:
Khamidulina Kh.Kh. – concept and design of the study, editing, approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Sinitskaya T.A. – text editing;
Tarasova E.V. – concept and design of the study, text writing, editing;
Zamkova I.V. – text writing, editing;
Safandeev V.V. – collection and processing materials for determining the threshold of acute inhalation effect;
Poroshin M.A. – conducting experimental studies to determine the threshold of acute inhalation effect.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgment. The study was financially supported by JSC Sibur Khimprom.

Received: February 2, 2025 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

Introduction. Currently, the world scientific community recommends the increasing use of in silico methods in assessing the hazard of chemicals. Of the computer modeling methods, the most popular are predictive systems based on structure-activity (QSAR) methods, used in complex hazard assessment and forecasting.

The purpose of this study is to review the capabilities of prognostic systems to identify the most informative one when solving issues of preventive toxicology.

Material and methods. The analysis of the OECD QSAR Toolbox software, VEGA Qsar, AMBIT, Toxtree, CAESAR software, TEST, Danish (Q)SAR Database, Syntelly, as well as articles on the practice of using predictive systems in toxicology, was conducted.

Results. QSAR predictive models allow to assess various types of hazards. The data on the specific and long-term effects of chemicals, which in classical toxicology require a significant material and time resource, are of the greatest importance. For a deeper study of the possibility of using predictive systems in solving preventive toxicology issues, according to the criteria of informativeness and reliability of positive results, the OECD QSAR Toolbox, VEGA Qsar, AMBIT, Toxtree, CAESAR software, TEST, Danish (Q)SAR Database, Syntelly were selected.

Limitations. The study was conducted through the study of databases Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ResearchGate, Cyberleninka, RSCI, eLibrary.

Conclusion. The analysis showed that most software products merge and “exchange” (integrate) QSAR models. The largest number of hazard indicators of chemicals allows to evaluate the QSAR Toolbox, while providing the opportunity to set the necessary toxicity indicators for the researcher.

Authors’ contribution:
Khamidulina Kh.Kh. – the concept and design of the study, editing, approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Tarasova E.V. – writing and editing the text;
Lastovetskiy M.L. – collection and processing of materials, writing and editing the text.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Funding. Carried out as part of the research project «Validation of alternative research methods in assessing the hazard and risk of exposure to chemicals on human health as a tool for regulating the safety of chemical factors».

Received: February 23, 2025 / Accepted: February 25, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025