Polynuclear aromatic compounds and genotoxicity in particulate and vapor phases of ambient air: effect of traffic, season, and meteorological conditions

Abstract

High-volume samples of ambient air were collected by glass-fiber filter (particulate) and XAD-2 resin (vapor) from three locations in Finland: two cities and a rural area. Samples were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and selected other polynuclear compounds. Genotoxicity of the samples was assayed in the Ames Salmonellalmicrosome test and sister chromatid exchange assay before and after fractionation into four fractions of increasing polarity. The ratio of PAH in the vapor and particulate phases of the samples varied considerably with the season, and the scavenging effect of snow and rain was as well clearly demonstrated. The rural samples showed minimal or no genotoxic activity, whereas at the urban sites not only the particulate-phase but also the vapor-phase samples were mutagenic. The genotoxicity was mainly associated with the most polar fractions of both phases. Studies with the nitroreductase-deficient Salmonella strain TA98NR indicated that, in the urban air samples collected in winter, a considerable part of the mutagenicity detected in the Ames test was due to NO2-substituted compounds. Traffic is suggested to be the major determinant for the genotoxic activity in the ambient air.

Inhibition of progesterone receptor activity in recombinant yeast by soot from fossil fuel combustion emissions and air particulate materials

“…Motor vehicle exhaust has been found to be mutagenic in the Ames assay (Courtois et al, 1993;Song and Ye, 1995) and to cause lung tumors in rats chronically exposed to diesel exhaust (Muto et al, 1996) by a mechanism which may involve DNA adduct formation (Gallagher et al, 1993). The organic fraction of urban airborne particulate matter has been tested to exhibit toxicologic activity by using the Ames test (Gundel et al, 1993), sister chromatid exchange assay (Tuonimen et al, 1988) and a human cell mutagenic cell (Hannigan et al, 1998).…”

Measuring the Size Distribution of Atmospheric Organic and Black Carbon Using Impactor Sampling Coupled with Thermal Carbon Analysis: Method Development and Uncertainties

“…Several of the organic compound classes staying mostly at the particulate phase, such as PAHs and PCBs, are carcinogens and mutagens and are found in atmospheric ne particles, especially in urban air (e.g., Baek et al 1991;Tuominen et al 1988).…”

Absorption of Semi-Volatile Compounds in Oiled Impaction Substrates: Measurement of Pyrene Absorption

“…A signi cant fraction of lower molecular weight PAHs have been reported to partition to the gas phase in the atmosphere (Yamasaki et al 1982;Pyysalo et al 1987;McVeety and Hites 1988;Tuominen et al 1988;Ligocki and Pankow 1989). These compounds are readily soluble in oils and may absorb from the gas phase into the oiled impaction substrates during atmospheric sampling.…”