Mutagenicity and redox activity of size segregated airborne particulate matter in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, in relation to aerosol chemical composition
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1
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemistry, Greece
The urban atmosphere contains high concentrations of suspended particulate matter of complex chemical composition depending on its origin (vehicular traffic, residential heating, industrial activities, soil dust, secondary aerosol formation, etc). The long-term exposure of urban population to atmospheric particles is associated with detrimental health effects. At the moment, it is not clear which other physical / chemical characteristics of particles apart from mass concentration (e.g. size distribution, number concentration, hygroscopicity, chemical composition, etc) are responsible for their health effects.
The present study presents the size distribution of airborne particulate matter in the urban atmosphere of the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, and associated organic components (AHs, PAHs, nitro-PAHs, OCPs and PCBs) and watersoluble inorganic species (sulphates, nitrates, chlorides, etc.). Five particle size fractions with different capability to penetrate the respiratory system were examined: <0.95 μm (bronchioli & alveoli), 0.95-1.5 μm (bronchi branches), 1.5-3 μm (primary bronchi), 3-7.5 μm (pharynx & trachea), and >7.5 μm (nasal passages). The bioactivity of particle fractions of different sizes in terms of mutagenicity and redox activity was measured using the salmonella biological assay (Ames test) and the dithiothreitol chemical assay (DTT test), respectively. The relationship between measured bioactivity and chemical composition was investigated.
Results obtained showed that the size fraction <0.95 μm accumulates the highest amounts of total particle mass (50-60%) and associated organic and inorganic constituents. Moreover, this size fraction exhibited the highest redox activity suggesting that small particles are more capable to produce formation of reactive organic species and oxidative stress. The highest values of mutagenicity were also observed in the particle size fraction <0.95 μm. The results, that are in accordance to literature data, indicate that submicron particles in urban areas may pose significant hazard to population health due to their high content in toxic chemical compounds.
Keywords:
environmental xenobiotics,
mutagenicity,
redox activity
Conference:
8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1 Oct - 5 Oct, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Invited speaker
Topic:
Xenobiotic toxicity
Citation:
Samara
C and
Chrysikou
L
(2010). Mutagenicity and redox activity of size segregated airborne particulate matter in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, in relation to aerosol chemical composition.
Front. Pharmacol.
Conference Abstract:
8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fphar.2010.60.00193
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Received:
28 Oct 2010;
Published Online:
04 Nov 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Constantini Samara, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemistry, Thessaloniki, Greece, csamara@chem.auth.gr