Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels and Mutagenic Activities of Organic Extracts from Airborne Particles in Santiago de Chile

Abstract

The levels of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particles were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 97 samples collected in downtown Santiago de Chile. The mean annual concentration was 260 ng-m~3 (range 71.80-1,345 ng-m-3). Six PAHs classified as carcinogenic by the WHO comprised 45% of the total PAHs. The annual mean concentration for benzo(a)pyrene was 18.25 ng-m-3 (range 2.08-130.30 ng-m-3), much higher than reported levels for several European and American cities. Levels in the cold season were, on average, 2.87 times higher than in the hot season. Principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyse the PAHs profiles. Organic extracts of particulate matter were examined by the Ames test using strain TA 98 ± S9 and all samples showed a very high mutagenic response both ± S9. The mutagenicity of the extracts was much higher than reported from studies in other countries. Earlier work with the strains TA 98 NR and TA 98/1,8 DNP6 had suggested that the extracts also contained mononitro- and dinitro-arenes. Continual exposure to particulates containing carcinogenic PAHs and nitroarenes represents a health risk for Santiago residents.

Trends of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels and Mutagenicity in Santiago's Inhalable Airborne Particles in the Period 1992?1996

“…Filter extractions, sampling preparation, and cleaning were performed as previously described (Adonis & Gil, 1993;Gil & Adonis, 1996). Filters for each month and each fraction (fine or coarse) collected daily (30-31 filters) were extracted with dichloromethane and combined into one sample (organic extract) for PAH analysis and Ames testing.…”

“…Therefore, the monitoring of urban air for genotoxic micropollutants is receiving increasing consideration toward the aim of evaluating health risk for people living in urban areas. Some studies have been carried out to investigate the levels of mutagenic and carcinogenic pollutants on total suspended particles in Santiago (Adonis & Gil, 1993;Gil & Adonis, 1996;Adonis et al, 1997), but no studies have been performed regarding levels of carcinogenic pollutants and mutagenic activity in the finest deeply respirable particulate matter.…”

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels and Mutagenicity of Inhalable Particulate Matter in Santiago, Chile

“…The volume collected was around 24 m 3 /day. Filter extractions, sampling preparation, as well as a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical procedure were performed as previously described (Adonis & Gil, 1993;Gil & Adonis, 1996).…”

“…Particles were collected every 24 h onto glass-fiber filters (Whatman 65-A) and stored in the dark at -20°C.The volume of air sampled ranged between 1221 and 2481 m 3 /day. Filter extraction and sampling preparation were performed as previously described (Gil & Adonis, 1996).…”

“…Nitroarenes can also be formed by photochemical reactions under ambient conditions. Previous studies with Santiago's organic extracts from total suspended particles (TSP) have shown that these extracts contain high levels of PAHs and are highly mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium (Adonis & Gil, 1993;Gil & Adonis, 1996).…”