The Salmonella mutagenicity of urban airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) from eight sites of the Emilia-Romagna regional monitoring network (Italy)

ARPA Emilia Romagna created, in 1997, a regional network for the continuous monitoring of the mutagenicity of PM2.5 by short-term mutagenicity bioassays to guarantee a constant surveillance on the entire regional territory. The continuous monitoring of the PM mutagenicity provides essential information for a better understanding of the impact of air pollution on the health of the population, and allows one to better judge the efficiency of national and local efforts for urban air quality improvement (use of ‘green’ petrol and ecodiesel, days during which traffic is prohibited, etc.). This article presents the results relating to the Networkʹs activity between September 2000 and December 2002, on PM2.5 fraction. The organic extracts of PM2.5 were tested for mutagenicity using Salmonella tester strains TA98 and TA100 with and without metabolic activation (S9). The data obtained on the genotoxicity of air particulate extracts have revealed a constant presence of mutagenic substances adsorbed on particulate matter—with a prevalence of direct-acting mutagens than of promutagens—in a typical seasonal trend featuring higher levels in autumn–winter and lower in warmer periods of the year. In this work the evolution of PM2.5 mutagenicity was compared with the particles, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations (monthly average); these comparisons revealed a quite good level of agreement on a local basis.