Highlights
1 The oxidative reactivity (OR) of size segregated PM was tested at a traffic site 2 Ultrafine and fine PM size fractions caused more DNA damage than coarse PM 3 PM exhibited more OR in comparison to manufactured carbon black particles 4 Zn (and Fe) were implicated in the generation of reactive oxygen species in PM 5 Size, surface area and metals were important particle characteristics for OR oxidative reactivity (OR). PM10 was collected in 11 size fractions at a traffic site in Swansea, 7 UK, using an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI). The PM physicochemical properties 8 (including size, morphology, type, and transition metals) were tested. The plasmid scission 9 assay (PSA) was used for OR testing of all particles. The ultrafine and fine PM (N28-2399; 28 -10 2399 nm) caused more DNA damage than coarse PM (N2400-10,000), and the increased capacity study PM-derived DNA damage was dependent upon; 1) particle size, 2) surface area, and 2) 19 transition metals. This study supports the view that ROS formation by PM10 is related to 20 physicochemistry using evidence with an increased particle size resolution.