Abstract
Urban air pollution represents a global problem, since everyday many mutagenic and carcinogens compounds are emitted into the atmosphere, with consequent adverse health effects on humans and biota. Specifically, particulate matter air pollution was associated with increased risks in human mortality and morbidity. In this paper, we analyse the genomic effects on human lymphocytes of different concentrations of annual Turin PM2.5 extract by an in vitro micronuclei assay. Samplings were collected from an urban meteorological-chemical station positioned in Turin (Italy), one of the most polluted cities in Europe. PM2.5 sampled on filters was used for organic extraction in monthly pools and successively aggregated to produce a mixture representative for a full year PM2.5 collection. Lymphocytes were exposed to four concentrations of PM2.5: 5, 10, 15 and 20 μg/mL and micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds were scored. With respect to controls, PM2.5 significantly increased the frequencies of all analysed biomarkers at all tested concentrations, whereas the CBPI index was significantly reduced only at the concentration of 20 μg/mL. Such in vitro effects can both to stimulate local authorities to adopt efficient measures for air pollution mitigation and to improve human monitoring to detect early precancer lesions.
Highlights
Urban air pollution represents a global problem, since everyday many mutagenic and carcinogens compounds are emitted into the atmosphere, with consequent adverse health effects on humans and biota
Epidemiological studies suggested that particulate matter (PM) air pollution in the urban environment could be associated with an increase in several diseases, including cancer[1] and cardiopulmonary diseases, as well as with a general increased risk in human mortality and morbidity[2,3,4]
In our study we found that PM2.5 significantly increased the nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (NBUDs) formation at all tested concentrations, with exception of 5 μg/mL
Summary
Urban air pollution represents a global problem, since everyday many mutagenic and carcinogens compounds are emitted into the atmosphere, with consequent adverse health effects on humans and biota. We analyse the genomic effects on human lymphocytes of different concentrations of annual Turin PM2.5 extract by an in vitro micronuclei assay. PM2.5 significantly increased the frequencies of all analysed biomarkers at all tested concentrations, whereas the CBPI index was significantly reduced only at the concentration of 20 μg/mL Such in vitro effects can both to stimulate local authorities to adopt efficient measures for air pollution mitigation and to improve human monitoring to detect early precancer lesions. Among the validated genotoxicity assay, the lymphocyte cytokinesis-block micronuclei (MNi) assay is included Such test is nowadays widely used on human population exposed to environmental and occupational carcinogens[23]. Such assay could be conducted in vitro on human and other animal cells[24]
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