Comparative analysis of cyto- and genotoxic effects of airborne particulates on human and rodent respiratory cells in vitro.
In our highly industrialized world air pollution has become an important topic. Beside gaseous pollutants airborne particulates are of great medical concern, containing several hundred mostly organic substances. They are incriminated to cause an excess mortality. Airborne particulates were collected in the heavily industrialized Ruhr region utilizing a high volume sampler HVS 150 (Ströhlein Instruments) equipped with glass fibre fiiters. Chemical substances were extracted with dichloromethane and quantitatively transferred to dimethyl sulfoxide for tissue culture experiments. Cytotoxicity of extracts was determined by reduction of 'plating efficiency' of human cell line A-549 (pneumocyte type II). The induction of 'sister chromatid exchanges' was used as a sensitive bioassay for detection of genotoxic activity of airborne particulates. As target cells we utilized tracheal epithelial cells of the Syrian golden hamster and the rat, human bronchial epithelial cells of line BEAS-2B and human lymphocytes. Quantities of substances equivalent to airborne particulates from 4 and more m(3) air exerted cytotoxic effects, while quantities of substances from 0.5 m(3) of air were markedly genotoxic.
Hornberg
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Medical Institute of Environmental Hygiene at the University of Düsseldorf, Auf m Hennekamp 50, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Maciuleviciute
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Seemayer
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