An Investigation of the Genotoxic Effects of Airborne Particulate Matter Using Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract

Samples of the PM₁₀ fraction of airborne particulate mat ter were collected from a roadside location in Cornwall using a Partisol 2000 gravimetric air sampler. Cultured human lung fibroblasts were exposed to a sonicated extract of this matter for various periods of time (0-120 h) and the presence of DNA damage was then assessed using single-cell gel electrophoresis. Four times the level of DNA damage was detected in the PM₁₀-exposed cells than that observed in similarly treated but non-PM₁₀ exposed control cells. This indicates that the airborne PM₁₀ from this site has significant genotoxic effects in this experimental system and that single-cell gel electro phoresis is a useful technique for the assessment of this form of particulate matter-induced biological damage.

Keywords

Comet ASSAY DNA damage Genotoxic effects Particulate matter (PM10)Single-cell gel electrophoresis

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Maynard R. , Howard C. : Particulate Matter: Properties and Effects upon Health. Oxford, Bios Scientific Publishers, 1999, pp 1-7.

Kunzli N. , Kaiser R. , Medina S. , Studnicka M. , Chanel O. , Filliger P. , Herry M. , Horak F. , Puybonnieux-Texier V. , Quenel P. , Scheider J. , Seethaler R. , Vergnard J. , Sommer H. : Public-health impact of outdoor and traffic-related air pollution: A European assessment. Lancet 2000;356: 795-801.

Donaldson K. , Stone V. , MacNee W. : The toxicology of ultrafine particles; in Maynard R , Howard C (eds): Particulate Matter: Properties and Effects upon Health. Oxford, Bios Scientific Publishers, 1999, pp 115-130.

Bonnett R. : Chemical Aspects of Photodynamic Therapy. Amsterdam , Gordon & Breach, 2000.

Singh N. , McCoy M. , Tice R. , Schnider E. : A simple technique for the quantification of low levels of DNA damage in individual cells. Exp Cell Res 1988;175:184-191.

Hammond B. , Kontos HA , Hess ML : Oxygen radicals in the adult respiratory distress syndrome, in myocardial ischemia and respiratory injury and in cerebral vascular damage. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1985;63:173-187.

Air Quality Guidelines: WHO Air Quality Guidelines. Geneva, 1999.