Mutagenicity and chemical analysis of airborne particulates from a rural area in italy

Abstract

Mutagenic activities of a sample of characterized airborne particulates collected in a rural location near Ispra (Italy) during the summer of 1980 were detected by the Ames test using TA 1537, TA 1538, TA 98, and TA 100 Salmonella strains. Eight chemical classes fractionated from the CH2Cl2 extract of the particulates were bioassayed, and their mutagenicities (TA 98 plus S9) were as follows: organic bases I greater than polar neutrals greater than insolubles in cyclohexane greater than organic acid II greater than aerosol "in toto" greater than intermediate neutrals greater than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons greater than organic acids I greater than nonpolar neutrals. Periodical samples were taken in the same location from March to December 1981, extracted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and directly tested with TA 1537, TA 98, and TA 100 Salmonella strains. For all the strains the mutagenicity varied markedly according to the season, the cold-month samples being much more mutagenic than the summer-month samples. The additional of S9 increased the mutagenicity (twofold) of the cold-month samples. The higher mutagenicity of the samples collected during the cold months could be due to greater amounts of mutagens produced by the combustion processes of domestic heating.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air mutagenicity: Results of one year monitoring at an urban site

“…This result, which is in agreement with previous observations (Crebelli et al 1995), underlies the well-known inverse relationship between air temperature and mutagenicity (Alfheim and Möller 1981, Reali et al 1984, Barale etal. 1989, which is thought to be caused by the increased deposition rates of vapor-phase mutagens onto air particles during cold periods (Tuominen et al 1988).…”

Correlation between the Amounts of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Mutagenicity of Airborne Particulate Samples from Taichung City, Taiwan

“…The air samples were tested for mutagenicity using the plate-incorporation assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 as described by Maron and Ames (1983), because the literature and our previous data indicated that S. typhimurium TA98 is the most sensitive tester strain for airborne particulate samples (Chou and Lee, 1990;Reali et al, 1984). The liver homogenate supernatant (S9) was prepared from the livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with Aroclor 1254 as described by Maron and Ames (1983).…”

Correlation between meteorological conditions and mutagenicity of airborne particupate samples in a tropical monsoon climate area from Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

“…The air samples were tested for mutagenicity using the plate-incorporation assay with S. fyphimurium TA98 as described by Maron and Ames [ 19831. because literature data and preliminary experiments indicated that S. typhimurium TA98 is the most sensitive tester strain for airborne particulate samples [Reali et al. 1984;Chou and Lee, 19901.…”

“…Many epidemiological studies have shown that incidence of lung cancer is higher in polluted environments, and the mutagenic level of airborne particulates may be correlated with the lung cancer mortality rate [Walker et al, 19821. Thus the biomonitoring and chemical characterization and identification of genotoxic compounds in airborne particulates have been extensively studied by researchers from many countries [Reali et al, 1984;De Raat eta]., 1985;DeFloraetaI., 1989;Virasetal., 19901. Kaohsiung City is located in the southern part of Taiwan and is the second most highly populated city in the country. It consistently has a serious air pollution problem, which may be caused by industrial and commercial activity [Year Book of Environmental Statistics, Environmental Protection Administration, 1991 1.…”