[Determination of the ammonia content in the atmosphere of biosatellite mock-ups and approaches to its standardization]. / Opredelenie soderzhaniia v atmosfere maketov biosputnikov ammiaka i podkhod k ego normirovaniiu

The concentrations of ammonia having an irritating and acute effect on intact rats and hypokinetic rats were determined. The thresholds of the chronic effect were calculated for each group of animals. The 30-day hypokinesia increased the animal sensitivity to ammonia: the threshold of the irritating effect decreased twice. The atmosphere in an enclosure equipped with an automatic life support system was examined during 30-day integrated animal experiments. Ammonia proved to be the major contaminant. Its concentration increased gradually, remaining for the longest part of the experiments (28 days) below the threshold of the chronic effect (40 mg/m3).