Human lymphoblast mutagens in urban airborne particles
- Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Center for Environmental Health Sciences
While it is known that urban airborne particles typically contain trace levels of bacterial mutagens and rodent carcinogens, little work has been done to identify chemicals in such particles that can genetically alter human cells. In this paper, the authors describe the analysis of an organic extract of a Washington, DC, airborne particle sample (SRM 1649) for human cell mutagens. Due to the chemical complexity of the extract, a bioassay-directed fractionation method was used to separate mutagenic constituents into chemically simplified fractions. Mutagenicity testing was done using the h1A1v2 cell line, a line of human B-lymphoblastoid cells that have been engineered to over-express the human cytochrome P4501A1. Chemical analysis of mutagenic fractions was accomplished using GC-MS and HPLC-UV techniques. The results indicate that {approximately} 20% of the total mutagenicity the extract was accounted for in two fourth-order fractions that contained {approximately} 3% of the total extract mass. These fractions were composed largely of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
- OSTI ID:
- 642234
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 32; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Biological and chemical methodologies for assessing human exposure to airborne mutagens indoors
Bioassay-directed fractionation of organic contaminants in an estuarine sediment using the new mutagenic bioassay, Mutatox[trademark]