TY - JOUR
T1 - Mutagenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fractions extracted from urban air particulates
AU - De Flora, S.
AU - Bagnasco, M.
AU - Izzotti, A.
AU - D'Agostini, F.
AU - Pala, M.
AU - Valerio, F.
PY - 1989
Y1 - 1989
N2 - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fractions, purified from extracts of airborne particles collected in the area of Genoa municipality, were assayed for mutagenicity in the Salmonella/microsome test. PAH fractions accounted for only a portion of the total mutagenic activity and also displayed a different specificity of genetic activity, as compared to unfractionated material. The analysis of 224 samples collected from January 1986 to November 1987 in 10 different localities led to a large number of positive results in strain TA100 with S9 mix and, less frequently, also in TA98 without metabolic activation. Mutagenicity was related to the intensity of anthropogenic atmospheric pollution, and showed some seasonal variations, although it was not possible to discriminate particular sources of pollution on the basis of mutagenicity patterns. The mutagenic potency in TA100 (S9+) of airborne PAH fractions was significantly correlated with the concentration of individual PAHs in most of the monitored localities. The spectrum of mutagenicity of monthly samples pooled from several localities in S. typhimurium strains, with and without S9 mix, provided evidence for some contribution of nitro derivatives of PAHs or possibly also of other compounds present in the same fractions. The results obtained are discussed in view of their predictive value as indicators of potential health hazards, and of the reliability of this biological tool as a complement to chemical analyses in the evaluation of ambient air pollution.
AB - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fractions, purified from extracts of airborne particles collected in the area of Genoa municipality, were assayed for mutagenicity in the Salmonella/microsome test. PAH fractions accounted for only a portion of the total mutagenic activity and also displayed a different specificity of genetic activity, as compared to unfractionated material. The analysis of 224 samples collected from January 1986 to November 1987 in 10 different localities led to a large number of positive results in strain TA100 with S9 mix and, less frequently, also in TA98 without metabolic activation. Mutagenicity was related to the intensity of anthropogenic atmospheric pollution, and showed some seasonal variations, although it was not possible to discriminate particular sources of pollution on the basis of mutagenicity patterns. The mutagenic potency in TA100 (S9+) of airborne PAH fractions was significantly correlated with the concentration of individual PAHs in most of the monitored localities. The spectrum of mutagenicity of monthly samples pooled from several localities in S. typhimurium strains, with and without S9 mix, provided evidence for some contribution of nitro derivatives of PAHs or possibly also of other compounds present in the same fractions. The results obtained are discussed in view of their predictive value as indicators of potential health hazards, and of the reliability of this biological tool as a complement to chemical analyses in the evaluation of ambient air pollution.
KW - Airborne particulates
KW - Atmospheric pollution
KW - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
KW - Salmonella mutagenicity assay
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U2 - 10.1016/0165-1218(89)90169-9
DO - 10.1016/0165-1218(89)90169-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 2677712
AN - SCOPUS:0024434479
SN - 0165-1218
VL - 224
SP - 305
EP - 318
JO - Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology Testing and Biomonitoring of Environmental or Occupational Exposure
JF - Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology Testing and Biomonitoring of Environmental or Occupational Exposure
IS - 2
ER -