title: Genotoxicity of organic extracts of urban airborne particulate matter: an assessment within a personal exposure study.
abstract: Airborne particulate matter, PM(10) and PM(2.5), are associated with a range of health effects including lung cancer. Their complex organic fraction contains genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives. This study evaluates the genotoxicity of the PM(10) and PM(2.5) organic extracts that were sampled in the framework of a personal exposure study in three French metropolitan areas (Paris, Rouen and Strasbourg), using the comet assay, performed on HeLa S3 cells. In each city, 60-90 non-smoking volunteers composed of two groups of equal size (adults and children) carried the personal Harvard Chempass multi-pollutant sampler during 48h along two different seasons ('hot' and 'cold'). Volunteers were selected so as to live (home and work/school) in 3 different urban sectors contrasted in terms of air pollution within each city (one highly exposed to traffic emissions, one influenced by local industrial sources, and a background urban environment). Genotoxic effects are stronger for PM(2.5) extracts than for PM(10), and greater in winter than in summer. Fine particles collected by subjects living within the traffic proximity sector present the strongest genotoxic responses, especially in the Paris metropolitan area. This work confirms the genotoxic potency of particulate matter (PM(10) and PM(2.5)) organic extracts to which urban populations are exposed.
authors.affiliation: INSERM ERI-11 et Université Henri Poincaré-Nancy 1, Faculté de médecine, 9 avenue de la Forêt de Haye, 54505 Vandoeuvre lès Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Oussama R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Abou Chakra
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joyeux
authors.forename: Eléna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nerrière
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Strub
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zmirou-Navier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012621:Seasons; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter