Inhalation of forest fire smoke affects not only the lungs, but also the semen

Wildfire smoke is a mixture of chemicals and tiny particles that are small enough to

elude the body's defenses and directlyaffect the lungs. But the damage doesn't end there. Toxicologists and environmentalists have studied the effects of wildfire smoke on human health, including sperm.

Research published last yearfound that rats born to parents exposed to wood smoke often have behavioral and cognitive problems. This prompted scientists from Boise State University, in collaboration with researchers from Northeastern University, to study what happens to the sperm of mice exposed to wildfire smoke.

Researchers simulated a forest fire inlaboratory, burning Douglas fir needles. They then selected a level of smoke exposure similar to that of a 15-year firefighter who works in a forested area. As a result of the experiment, scientists discovered that exposure to smoke in mice led to changes in sperm DNA methylation. DNA methylation is a biological mechanism that regulates gene expression. 

The study authors found that exposurewood smoke is similar to the effects of cannabis and cigarette smoke on semen. Scientists will continue to work to understand whether and how these changes in sperm affect offspring, as well as conduct a similar experiment with humans.

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