Assessment of toxicity and mutagenicity in air particulate matter from an urban industrial area in the coast of the Rio de la Plata

Chemical characterization and effects assessment of semivolatile organic co mpounds in organic extracts from air particulate matter from the region of the greater La Plata area was undertaken. Effects covered the study of muta genicity with the Ames test (Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 strains with metabolic activation by S9) and cytotoxicity using the Tetrahymena pyr iformis test system (growth rate, cell volume, and cell respiration). Chemi cal analysis of organic extracts was done using gas chromatography. Results demonstrate the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the matrix, high mutagenicity, and cytotoxicity. A higher mutagenic activity de tected with TA98 and TA100 strains is associated with an increment of total PAH and total five or six ring PAH content, respectively. Linked with it, a PAH dependent toxicity on Tetrahymena pyriformis has been observed. This cell system proved to be very sensitive. From the results obtained with the cell respiration assay with T. pyriformis it appears that uncoupling agent s are present in the samples. The results of this study indicate that air p articulate matter from the Rio de La Plata area contains significant genoto xic and cytotoxic activity probably due to the presence of PAHs. (C) 2001 b y John Wiley & Sons, Inc.