title: Mutagenicity of airborne particulates in the rubber industry.
abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the mutagenic activity of airborne particulate matter in the rubber industry. Air was sucked through Whatman glass-fibre filters with Staplex pumps and adsorbed substances and fume particles were extracted with acetone or toluene for 2 h in a ultrasonic cleaner. After separation of the insoluble solid phase by filtration, solvent was evaporated at a temperature of 70 degrees C in an argon atmosphere. The residue was stored at -20 degrees C. Mutagenicity was determined by the Salmonella plate incorporation assay with the tester strain TA98 and activity is related either to the weight of aerosol (rev mg-1) or to the volume of atmospheric sample (rev m-3). The fumes emitted from the tyre tread line, calender feeding, and tyre vulcanizing processes, showed the highest mutagenic activity (55-211 rev mg-1, + S9). At these and at other workplaces (extruder mill, carbon black station, mixer loading), mutagenic activity related to the volume of air was in the range of 22-158 rev m-3, + S9. The results indicate the need to reduce and monitor mutagenic contamination in order to increase the safety of work in the rubber industry.
authors.affiliation: Nofer's Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Occupational Cancerogenesis, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barański
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Indulski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Janik-Spiechowicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palus
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D007221:Industry; D009153:Mutagens; D012408:Rubber; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D009153:Mutagens; D012408:Rubber