Genotoxic Activity of Particulate Matter and In Vivo Tests in Children Exposed to Air Pollution

The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between micronuclei and DNA damage in children’s buccal mucosa cells and the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of the different sized fractions of particulate matter as well as the concentration of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and metals in particulate matter. Air particulate matter was collected by high volume samplers located near the schools attended by the children on the same days of biological samplings. The mutagenic activity was assessed in different cells in in vitro tests (Ames test on bacteria and comet test on leukocytes). Our study showed weak positive correlations between (a) the mutagenicity of the PM(0.5) fraction and PAHs and (b) the micronuclei test of children’s buccal cells and PAHs detected in PM(0.5) and PM(0.5–3) fractions. A positive correlation was also found between in vitro comet test on leukocytes and PAHs in the PM(3–10) fraction. No correlation was observed for metal concentrations in each PM fraction.