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(87-02) The genotoxic and mutagenic potency of environmental air samples in Flanders. Du Four, Vincent*,1, Van Larebeke, Nick2, De Coen, Wim3, Janssen, Colin1, 1 Laboratory of Environmenal Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent Univerity, Gent2 Clinic for Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent3 Laboratory for Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen ABSTRACT- Atmospheric pollution is assumed to be one of the factors responsible for respiratory diseases and cancer. The mutagenic and genotoxic activities associated with environmental air have been determined with a battery of bioassays. Airborne particulates (PM10) and semi-volatile organic compounds were sampled during winter and summer at different urban, industrial and rural sites in Flanders. The samples were collected with a high-volume sampler using quartz filters and polyurethane foam (PUF) cartridges. The mutagenic and genotoxic potency of the organic extracts was determined using the Ames plate incorporation assay, the cytokinesis micronucleus assay and the Vitotox® procedure. The concentration of 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the extracts was measured by reversed-phase HPLC. The Ames assay, using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98, demonstrated high direct-acting mutagenicity in the extracts of the quartz filters (particulate matter) witch was in contrast with low or no mutagenic activity observed in the PUF extracts (semi-volatile organic compounds). Similar results were observed with the Vitotox®: quartz filter extracts showed genotoxic effects without metabolic activation, while the PUF extracts did not. With these PUF extracts bacteriotoxic effects were often observed. The different results of the quartz filter and PUF extracts can be explained by the higher concentrations of potential mutagene compounds like benzo(a)pyrene in the particulate associated matter. The PAHs concentration measured in samples of rural sites where similar to those of urban and industrial sites. The high PAHs concentration observed at rural sites were also reflected in the mutagenic and genotoxic potential of these samples. Key words: environmental air samples , bioassays, genotoxicity, mutagenicity |
