Bioassay-Directed Chemical Analysis of Los Angeles Airborne Particulate Matter Using a Human Cell Mutagenicity Assay

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 32; no. 22; pp. 3502 - 3514
• Main Authors: Hannigan, Michael P, Cass, Glen R, Penman, Bruce W, Crespi, Charles L, Lafleur, Arthur L, Busby, William F, Thilly, William G, Simoneit, Bernd R. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.11.1998
• Subjects: Air pollution; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Aromatic compounds; Atmosphere; Atmospheric pollution; Bioassay; Biological and medical sciences; Cells; Chemical mutagenesis; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Liquid chromatography; Medical sciences; Mutagens; Mutation; Pollution; Toxicology; Los Angeles; California; United States; North America; America; Los Angeles California; United States > US; Human; Thymidine kinase; Chemical analysis; Bioassay; Enzyme; Mutagenicity testing; Toxicity; Transferases; Urban area; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Mutagen; In vitro; Dose activity relation; Gas chromatography; Suspended particle; Enzymatic activity; Established cell line; Aerosols; Air pollution; Mass spectrometry; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es9706561

The human cell mutagenicity of Los Angeles airborne fine particulate matter is examined via bioassay-directed chemical analysis. A 1993 composite fine particle sample is separated via liquid chromatography into fractions containing organic compounds of varying polarity. Samples are analyzed by the h1A1v2 human cell mutagenicity assay to identify those fractions that contain human cell mutagens and by GC/MS to identify the chemical character of those mutagens. Those subfractions that contain unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) are responsible for a considerable portion of the mutagenic potency of the whole atmospheric sample. Six unsubstituted PAC (cyclopenta[cd]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene) account for most of the mutagenic potency that can be assigned to specific compounds within the atmospheric samples. Important semipolar mutagens that are quantified include 2-nitrofluoranthene and 6H-benzo[cd]pyren-6-one. A large number of other aromatic organics are identified as candidates for future testing as pure compounds in the human cell assay, at which time it should be possible to account for more of the mutagenic potency of the atmospheric samples.