Arsenic has become a significant concern due to its detrimental effects on public health across various regions globally. Both natural and human-made sources contribute to groundwater contamination, leading to arsenicosis, which adversely affects ecosystems and human health. The trivalent form of inorganic arsenic is particularly harmful because it is neurotoxic and capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. This exposure poses substantial health risks, particularly to the central nervous system (CNS), including impairments in recent memory, learning, and attention. In this study, we investigate the potential of using the Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the vinegar fly, as a model organism to study the effects of short-term arsenic exposure through various behavioral tests. The vinegar fly is a versatile organism that provides the necessary tools for researchers to investigate behavioral changes and gene expression in controlled populations. We focused on the toxic effects of inorganic arsenic on third-instar larvae and assessed their cognitive and olfactory responses in a time- and dose-dependent manner. By measuring the olfactory response index and assessing learning capabilities, we found that acute arsenic exposure significantly disrupts olfaction, learning, and memory in the larvae of vinegar flies.
