Mutagenicity in emissions from coal- and oil-fired boilers.

Abstract

The mutagenicity of emission samples from three oil-fired and four coal-fired boilers have been compared by using the Salmonella/microsome assay. Very little or no mutagenic activity was observed in samples from five of these boilers. The sample from one oil-fired boiler showed mutagenic activity of about 500 revertants/MJ, and the sample from a coal-fired fluidized bed combustor had an activity of 58,000 revertants/MJ measured with strain TA 98 in the absence of metabolic activation. All samples contained substances that were cytotoxic to the test bacteria, thus making it difficult to obtain linear dose-response curves. Mutagenic activity at low levels may remain undetected due to this toxicity of the samples. Samples with mutagenic activity below the detection limit in the Salmonella test have also been tested for forward mutations at the HGPRT locus in V79 hamster cells. Weak mutagenic effects were detected in two of the samples, whereas the sample from one oil-fired boiler remained negative. In this test, as well as in the Salmonella test, a strong cytotoxic effect could be observed with all samples.

Consensus report: mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of car exhausts and coal combustion emissions

“…A variety of PAH has been identified in emissions from coal combustion, particularly under suboptimal combustion conditions. This includes benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(a)fluoranthene, benzo-(j)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, fluorene, fluoranthene, naphthalene, and anthracene (11). Similarily, gaseous emissions of organic compounds include ethylene, benzene, toluene, and a variety of alkanes (11).…”

“…We know that fossil fuel combustion products contain carcinogens; the evidence stems from the chemical identification of recognized carcinogens (11)(12)(13), positive bioassay data from a variety of in vitro and animal systems (7) as well as epidemiology studies (3). One of the oldest established occupational carcinogenic hazards, scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps (14), resulted from exposure to fossil fuel combustion products.…”

“…This includes benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(a)fluoranthene, benzo-(j)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, fluorene, fluoranthene, naphthalene, and anthracene (11). Similarily, gaseous emissions of organic compounds include ethylene, benzene, toluene, and a variety of alkanes (11). Laboratory studies have demonstrated organic chemical interactions with fly ash surfaces that can stabilize against or catalyze chemical decomposition (54).…”

“…Recent data (11,13,54) Model experiments suggest that these reactions may transform noncarcinogenic /nonmutagenic PAH to biologically active components or the reverse; hence, the genotoxicity may be altered.…”

Effects of coal combustion products and metal compounds on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in a macrophagelike cell line

“…Introduction phages (1)(2)(3) (4)(5)(6). Extracts are also used *Institute of Community Health, Department of Hygiene, in most correlation studies (7,8 of inorganic compounds in the particles will remain undiscovered.…”