Monitoring urban air particulate matter (fractions PM 2.5 and PM 10) genotoxicity by plant systems and human cells in vitro: a comparative analysis.
Increased incidence of mortality and sickness due to cardiopulmonary complications has been associated with elevated levels of urban air particles (UAP), with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm (PM 10) and 2.5 microm (PM 2.5). In the present report alternative plant systems and human cells in vitro are associated with human hazard and genotoxic risk assessment of UAP. The genotoxic activities associated with the coarse (PM 10) and the fine fraction (PM 2.5) of airborne particulates have been analyzed by evaluating micronuclei induction and/or sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) using in vitro models of Daucus carota and HS 27 human fibroblast cell suspensions and Zea mays root meristems. Results show variability in the response of the test systems and indicate that the mutagenicity trend in both plant and human cell cultures was directly correlated to the concentration of carbon-rich particles in the fraction of the PM 2.5 airborne particulates. Moreover, in plant tissues, the frequency of micronuclei and SCE was related to an enhancement of the specific activity of the stress-related enzyme peroxidase.
Department of Basic and Applied Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy. poma@univaq.it
Anna
A
Poma
Lorenzo
L
Arrizza
Pietro
P
Picozzi
Laura
L
Spanò
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000166:cytology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D010316:Particle Size; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D059828:Plant Cells; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D012621:Seasons; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010940:Plant Proteins; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D010544:Peroxidases