Mutagenicity of indoor air particles in a residential pilot field study: application and evaluation of new methodologies

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6079182

Lewtas, J; Goto, S; Williams, K; Chuang, J C; Petersen, B A

The mutagenicity of indoor air-particulate matter was measured in a pilot field study of homes in Columbus, Ohio, during the 1984 winter. The study was conducted in eight all-natural-gas homes and two all-electric homes. Particulate matter and semi-volatile organic compounds were collected indoors using a medium-volume sampler. A micro-forward mutation bioassay employing Salmonella typhimurium strain TM 677 was used to quantify the mutagenicity in solvent extracts of microgram quantities of indoor air particles. The mutagenicity was quantified in terms of both mutation frequency per mg of organic matter extracted and per cubic meter of air sampled. The combustion-source variables explored in this study included woodburning in fireplaces and cigarette smoking. Homes in which cigarette smoking occurred had the highest concentrations of mutagenicity per cubic meter of air.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6079182
• Report Number(s): PB-87-198792/XAB; EPA-600/J-87/029
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BIOASSAY
BUILDINGS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MUTAGENESIS
MUTAGENS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS