Wildland fires, increasing in recent decades in the Mediterranean region due to climate change, can contribute to PM levels and composition. This study aimed to investigate biological effects of PM2.5 (Ø < 2.5 µm) and PM10 (Ø < 10 µm) collected near a fire occurred in the North-West of Italy in 2017 and in three other areas (urban and rural areas). Organic extracts were assessed for mutagenicity using Ames test (TA98 and TA100 strains), cell viability (WST-1 and LDH assays) and genotoxicity (Comet assay) with human bronchial cells (BEAS-2B) and estrogenic activity using a gene reporter assay (MELN cells). In all sites, high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 were measured during the fire suggesting that near and distant sites were influenced by fire pollutants. The PM10 and PM2.5 extracts induced a significant mutagenicity in all sites and the mutagenic effect was increased with respect to historical data. All extracts induced a slight increase of the estrogenic activity but a possible antagonistic activity of PM samples collected near fire was observed. No cytotoxicity or DNA damage was detected. Results confirm that fires could be relevant for human health, since they can worsen the air quality increasing PM concentrations, mutagenic and estrogenic effects.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, containment measures were applied inducing potential changes in air pollutant concentrations and thus in air toxicity. This study evaluates the role of restrictions on biological effects of particulate matter (PM) in different Northwest Italy sites: urban background, urban traffic, rural, and incinerator. Daily PM samples collected in 2020 were pooled according to restrictions: January/February (no restrictions), March and April (first lockdown), May/June and July/August/September (low restrictions), October/November/December (second lockdown). The 2019 samples (pre-pandemic period) were pooled as 2020 for comparison. Pools were extracted with organic solvents and extracts were tested to assess cytotoxicity (WST-1 assay) and genotoxicity (comet assay) on BEAS-2B cells, mutagenicity (Ames test) on TA98 and TA100 Salmonella typhimurium strains, and estrogenic activity (gene reporter assay) on MELN cells. Pollutant concentrations were also analyzed (PM10, PM2.5, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). No difference was observed for PM and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations between 2020 and 2019. During lockdown months (2020), PM cytotoxicity/genotoxicity was significantly lower in some sites than during 2019, while considering PM mutagenicity/estrogenic activity some differences were detected but without statistical significance. PM extract effects decreased in some sites during 2020; this may be due to lockdowns that reduced/modified pollutant emissions and may be related also to complex PM origin/formation and to meteorological conditions. In conclusion, the study confirms that PM biological effects cannot be assessed considering only the PM concentration and suggests to include a battery of bioassay for air quality monitoring in order to protect human health from air pollution effects. Graphical Abstract
Biomass combustions generated by both forest fires and home heating in urban centers produce a huge amount of pollutants which can be adsorbed on the particulate matter (PM) and subsequently carried within the human respiratory system. Moreover the occurrence of forest fires is growing due to climate change and it poses a great risk both to environment and to human health. The aim of this study was to investigate different biological effects of PM collected during a big forest fires phenomenon that occurred in Piedmont (Northern Italy) in autumn 2017. PM2.5 and PM10 were collected near the forest fires and in three other areas of Piedmont (two urban and one rural areas). Mutagenicity of organic extracts was assessed on different strains of Salmonella typhimurium using Ames assay while cytotoxicity (WST-1 and LDH assays) and genotoxicity (Comet assay) were evaluated on human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). The estrogenic activity of organic extracts was estimated through a gene reporter assay on MELN cells, in order to analyse the presence of endocrine disruptors adsorbed on PM. The contribution of fires to urban mutagenicity was low moreover samples did not induce any significant cytotoxic or genotoxic effect. A slight increase in estrogenic activity was detected in samples from urban and rural areas, while an anti-estrogenic effect was induced by forest fires samples. The biological effects induced by extracts were low respect to what is normally observed in urban sites but are probably due to the tested concentrations, which are closer to realistic human exposure but are insufficient to show differences among areas. These findings may be helpful for public health policies, suggesting to include in the monitoring of traditional parameters the contribution of biomass combustion to the air quality. Finally the PM biomonitoring could improve the air quality assessment, which is essential to plan strategies focused on environment and health protection. Key messages The PM biomonitoring could improve the air quality assessment, which is essential to plan strategies focused on environment and health protection. Public health policies should consider the contribution of biomass combustion to the air quality in monitoring plans.
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