title: Mutagenicity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons analysis of ambient airborne particles collected in Athens, Greece.
abstract: Samples of airborne particulates from the Athens atmosphere were examined for mutagenicity and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Extracts induced linear, dose-related increases in TA98 His+ revertants in the Ames/Salmonella assay and contained average benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) levels of 3.9 ng/m3 of air. The levels of revertants/m3 of the samples showed a linear relation to their BaP and benzo[b]-(BbF) + benzo[k]-fluoranthene (BkF) concentrations and were higher in areas with dense traffic than in industrial areas. It is suggested that the atmosphere of Athens favours the formation of secondary direct-acting mutagens due to the oxidation and nitration of PAH by ozone and nitrogen oxides, which are more abundant in the late spring months.
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds