Bacterial mutagenicity and chemical analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some nitro derivatives in environmental samples collected in West Germany

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Mutagen.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2860080110· OSTI ID:5858766

Garner, R C; Stanton, C A; Martin, C N; Chow, F L; Thomas, W; Hubner, D; Herrmann, R

Snow and air particulate samples collected in Upper Frankonia, Federal Republic of Germany, have been analyzed for nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and PAH content. A novel clean-up technique has been developed enabling interfering organochlorine environmental contaminants to be removed prior to analysis of the hydrocarbons by GC-MS. Mass fragmentation patterns are presented for 1-nitropyrene, 6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene, 6-nitrochrysene, and 3-nitrofluoranthene. The level of these compounds found in air samples was in the range of 0.2-2.0 ng.m-3 with the exception of 6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene, which was not detected. This compares with PAH values of between 1 and 6 ng.m-3. The freshly fallen snow sample collected at the side of a motorway had no detectable PAHs or nitro-PAHs. Parallel studies on the bacterial mutagenicity of the collected air samples using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 in the presence and absence of aroclor-induced rat liver S9 revealed both direct and indirect activity. Larger numbers of mutants were induced in the presence of S9 than in its absence. The snow sample was devoid of mutagenic activity. These studies show the utility of the biological approach to screen environmental samples prior to expensive and time-consuming chemical analysis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of York, Heslington, England
• OSTI ID: 5858766
• Journal Information: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Mutagen.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN ENMUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
MUTAGEN SCREENING
MUTAGENS
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RATS
RODENTS
SALMONELLA
SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM
SCREENING
SNOW
VERTEBRATES
WESTERN EUROPE