title: Exploring the clastogenic effects of air pollutants in São Paulo (Brazil) using the Tradescantia micronuclei assay.
abstract: This study was designed to determine the clastogenicity of particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 microm) in the urban polluted air in the city of São Paulo. The Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) assay was used throughout this study to evaluate the clastogenicity of the extracts of the particulate matter. Tradescantia pallida (Rose) Hunt. cv. purpurea, an indigenous cultivar, was used in the Trad-MCN assay. The efficacy of this plant material for the Trad-MCN assay was validated with dose-response studies using formaldehyde and beta radiation. Dose-response curves were established with these known mutagens. The extracts of the PM10 particles at concentrations between 5 and 50 ppm induced a dose-related increase in MCN frequencies. The results indicate that T. pallida is equally sensitive to mutagens as the standard Tradescantia clone 4430 or 03 and the particulate matter in the urban air are clastogenic to the chromosomes of this plant. Inhalation of these particles by urban dwellers may affect their health by inducing similar genetic damage.
authors.affiliation: Labóratorio de Poluicão Atmosférica Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina da USP, Departmento de Patologia, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 455 CEP o1246-903, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Batalha
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lichtenfels
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deur
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domingos
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Saldiva
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001610:Beta Particles; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D005557:Formaldehyde