We analyze in detail the creation of fermions and bosons from a vacuum by an electric field that exponentialy decreases in time. In our calculations, we use quantum electrodynamics (QED) and mainly consider the particle creation effect in a homogeneous electric field. To this end, we find complete sets of exact solutions of the d-dimensional Dirac equation in the exponentially decreasing electric field, and we use them to calculate all the characteristics of the effect, and specifically the total number of created particles and the probability that a vacuum will remain a vacuum. Note that the latter quantities were derived in the case under consideration for the first time. All possible asymptotic regimes are discussed in detail. In addition, switching on and switching off effects are studied.