Genetic biomonitoring of an urban population exposed to mutagenic airborne pollutants

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 1023 - 1029
• Main Authors: Coronas, Mariana V., Pereira, Tatiana S., Rocha, Jocelita A.V., Lemos, Andréia T., Fachel, Jandyra M.G., Salvadori, Daisy M.F., Vargas, Vera M.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Air; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - blood; Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air pollution; Assaying; Biological and medical sciences; Biomonitoring; Chemical mutagenesis; Comet assay; Comets; Damage; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA Damage; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Exposure; Extraction and Processing Industry; Genetics; Genotoxicity; Humans; Inhalation Exposure - analysis; Medical sciences; Micronucleus assay; Mouth Mucosa - metabolism; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens - analysis; Mutagens - metabolism; Mutagens - toxicity; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - blood; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Pollutants; Refineries; Salmonella; Salmonella/microsome assay; Toxicology; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; South America; Brazil; America; Air pollution; Biomonitoring; Salmonella/microsome assay; Micronucleus assay; Comet assay; Genotoxicity; Human; Proximity; Micronucleus test; Mutagenicity testing; Toxicity; Urban area; Refinery; Microsome; Mutagen; Biological monitoring; Residential zone; Petrochemical industry; Environment; Genetics; Salmonelial microsome assay; Public health
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2009.05.001

Biomonitoring studies have increased as a consequence of risks and effects to human health on exposure to environmental contaminants, mainly air pollutants. Genetic biomarkers are useful tools for the early assessment of exposure to occupational and environmental pollution. The objective of the present study was to investigate genotoxic effects on people residing and/or working downwind from an oil refinery in southern Brazil and the mutagenic activity of airborne particulate matter (PM10). Samples of peripheral blood and buccal mucosa cells were evaluated using the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) and the micronucleus (MN) assay, respectively. PM10 samples were collected in the target site and the organic matter extraced with dichloromethane was assessed for mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/microsome assay. The exposed group ( n = 37) was compared to a reference group ( n = 37) of subjects living in an urban area with limited traffic and industrial influence, located far from the main industrial areas. All PM10 organic extracts showed mutagenic positive responses and the effect decreased in the presence of S9 mix indicating that the predominant compounds present were direct-acting mutagens. The responses of YGs strains are consistent with aromatic amines and nitroarenes being present in the PM10 extracts. The group in the area under the influence of the oil refinery (exposed group) showed significantly higher DNA damage in lymphocytes than the reference group. The MN frequencies in buccal mucosa were very low for both groups and no difference between groups was observed. No association was found between age and tobacco smoking habit and level of DNA damages measured by the comet assay. The results indicate that the comet assay was a sensitive tool to detect DNA damage in subjects under the influence of an oil refinery, with marked genotoxic activity in the atmospheric environment.