VARIABILITY IN THE MUTAGENICITY OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ADSORBED ON THE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

The aim of the study was to determine differences in mutagenicity of organic pollutants adsorbedon suspended particulate matter in the city centre and its outskirts. Particulate matter was collectedusing a high-performance sampler in different parts of Wrocław in summer and winter. Organiccompounds adsorbed on the particulate matter were extracted for 8 hours in Soxhlet apparatuses.The concentration of PAHs was determined using GC-MS. Mutagenicity of samples was testedusing the Ames test. The concentrations of particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere rangedfrom 23 to 144 μg/m3, and PAHs from the EPA list adsorbed on it ranged from 8.3 to 1211.6 ng/m3.Particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere collected in different places in Wrocław insummer and winter showed mutagenic activity. This effect was greater in winter than in summer.In winter, it was greater in the city centre than on its outskirts. Activation with the S9 mix fractioncaused a decrease in the mutagenic activity of most of the tested particulate matter samples againstthe TA 98 strain. This indicates the presence of mainly direct mutagens in them. The volumesof polluted air causing a mutagenic effect on the TA 98 strain without activation by the S9 mixfraction ranged from 0.25 to 35 m3. The high sensitivity of the YG 1021 and YG 1024 strains tothe mutagenic effect of pollutants adsorbed on the tested particulate matter indicates a significantshare of nitroarenes in their mutagenic activity. The differentiation of this share depended mainlyon local and momentary conditions. The exposure of residents to the genotoxic effect of pollutantsadsorbed on particulate matter increases in winter, especially in the city centre. Supplementing thecurrently used physicochemical monitoring of air pollution with a study of the mutagenic activityof pollutants adsorbed on particulate matter would allow for the assessment of this activity and theshare of certain groups of pollutants, such as nitroarenes.