Monitoring airborne genotoxicants in the rubber industry using genotoxicity tests and chemical analyses

This research was designed to examine the presence of mutagenic/carcinogeni c compounds in airborne pollutants in the rubber industry using an integrat ed chemical/biological approach. Inhalable airborne particulate matter (PM- 10: <10 <mu>m) was collected in four rubber factories using a high-volume s ampler equipped with a cascade impactor for particle fractionation. The org anic extracts of two different fractions <0.5-10 <mu>m and (0.5 mum) were e xamined for mutagenicity with the Ames test and for in vitro DNA-damaging a ctivity in human leukocytes by single-cell microgel electrophoresis (Comet assay). The extracts were also studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrome try (GC/MS) for polycyclic aromatic hy drocarbon (PAH) content. Nitrosamine s in ambient air were sampled on cartridges and analysed by GC with a therm al energy analyser (TEA) detector. Airborne volatile genotoxins were monito red in situ using a clastogenicity plant test (Tradescantia/micronuclei tes t). The results showed that airborne particulates were mainly very fine (<0 .5 <mu>m) and that trace amounts of genotoxic nitrosamines (N-nitrosodimeth ylamine: 0.10-0.98 mug/m(3); N-nitrosomorpholine: 0.77-2.40 mug/m(3)) and P AH (total PAH: 0.34-11.35 mug/m(3)) were present in air samples. Some extra cts, particularly those obtained from the finest fractions, were mutagenic with the Ames test and genotoxic with the Comet assay. In situ monitoring o f volatile mutagens using the Tradescantia/micronuclei test gave positive r esults in two working environments. The results showed the applicability of this integrated chemical-biological approach for detecting volatile and no n-volatile genotoxins and for monitoring genotoxic hazards in the rubber in dustry. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.