title: Correlation of nitroaromatic compounds with the mutagenic activity of coal fly ash.
abstract: Stack-collected fly-ash particles from a commercial pulverized-coal power plant were extracted with 60/40 w/w benzene-methanol to remove as much of the organic fraction as possible. The extract was sequentially fractionated on a series of high-performance liquid chromatography columns, and the Salmonella bacterial mutagenicity assay using both normal and nitroreductase-deficient strains was used to localize the most mutagenic fractions. Selected fractions were analyzed by a variety of techniques, including gas chromatography with dual-flame ionization and thermionic nitrogen-phosphorus detectors, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, direct-probe low-resolution or low-voltage mass spectrometry, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Mutagenicity data indicated that nitroorganic compounds were the primary mutagens in all samples submitted for chemical analysis. A series of homologous alkylated nitrophenanthrenes appear to be important mutagens in one major fraction, while alkylated nitrofluorenones appear to be the dominant mutagens in a second major fraction. No nitro compounds were identified in a third major fraction. In addition to the nitro compounds, substantial amounts of fluorenones were also found, although these are not believed to contribute to the direct-acting mutagenic activity of the samples.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003031:Coal / Q000633:toxicity*; D060729:Coal Ash; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D052638:Particulate Matter; D051381:Rats; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D060729:Coal Ash; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon