Studies of the mutagenic response of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 to size-fractionated air particles: comparison of the fluctuation and plate incorporation tests

Comparison of the Salmonella/microsome microsuspension assay with the new microplate fluctuation protocol for testing the mutagenicity of environmental samples

The objective of this study was to compare the responses of the Salmonella/microsome microsuspension assay with the new microplate fluctuation protocol (MPF) for the evaluation of the mutagenic activity of environmental samples. Organic extracts of total particulate atmospheric air samples, surface waters, and effluents were tested in dose-response experiments. The assays were performed with strain TA98 in the absence and presence of S9 mix. Both protocols produced similar results, despite the fact that the maximum score of the MPF is limited to 48 wells, whereas in the regular plate assay it is possible to count up to 1,500 colonies using an automatic counter. Similar sensitivities based on the lowest dose that resulted in a positive response were obtained for both assays. The MPF procedure is less laborious (e.g., all-liquid format, use of multichannel pipettors) and allows for automation of the pipetting and dispensing steps, thus, reducing time of the analysis which is particularly important in environmental quality monitoring programs or in effect-directed analysis. The results show that the MPF procedure is a promising tool to test environmental samples for mutagenic activity.

The release of mutagens from airborne particles in the presence of physiological fluids

Airborne particulates collected indoors in residences and outdoors were extracted by soxhlet extraction and sonication with methanol. In a comparative study in which mutagenic activity was evaluated in the Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay both soxhlet extraction and sonication proved to be suitable extraction methods. First, the residue, obtained by sonication of loaded filters with methanol followed by evaporation to dryness (tar), was sonicated with newborn calf serum and lung lavage fluid from pigs. All serum extracts of the tar were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA98, and contained direct- and indirect-acting mutagens. However, the mutagenic activity recovered by serum was only about half of the total mutagenic activity of the tar. The other part of the mutagenic activity remained in the tar. Lung lavage fluid was only able to remove 5-10% of direct-acting mutagens from the tar of all samples. About 20% of indirect-acting mutagens from indoor air were recovered in lung lavage fluid, while the lung lavage fluid extract from outdoor air did not show indirect mutagenic activity. Second, mutagenic activity recovered by direct sonication of the filters with physiological fluids was comparable with the recovery obtained by sonication of the tar. However, after sonication of the filter with lung lavage fluid hardly any mutagenic activity remained on the filter, whereas after sonication of the tar a clear mutagenic activity was observed in the non-soluble residue.

Organ specific metabolic activation of five extracts of indoor and outdoor particulate matter

In this study liver and lung homogenates of untreated and Aroclor 1254-pretreated rats (Wistar) and mice (Swiss) were compared for their P-450 content and their capacity to activate extracts of airborne particulate matter, sampled indoors and outdoors. Results show that in addition to liver, lung homogenates of rat (Wistar) and mouse (Swiss) are also able to activate extracts of airborne particulate matter in a comparative way. Uninduced liver and lung homogenates showed only minor differences in activation capacity in the metabolism of airborne particles. In contrast to liver homogenates, Aroclor 1254 pretreatment of test animals did not give strong induction of metabolic activation capacity of lung homogenates. P-450 content was observed in all liver and lung homogenates of mouse and rat and in human lung homogenates. The results obtained in this study suggest that the respiratory tract may be an important site for in vivo bioactivation of respirable particles.

Mutagenicity of fine (less than 2.5 microns) airborne particles: diurnal variation in community air determined by a Salmonella micro preincubation (microsuspension) procedure

A simple modification of the Salmonella liquid incubation assay previously developed for detecting mutagens in urine was used to determine mutagenic activity of airborne particulate matter. The modification consists of adding ten times more bacteria (approximately 10(9) per incubation tube) and five to ten times less metabolic enzymes compared to the plate incorporation method. The mixture volume is approximately 0.2 ml, and the mixture is incubated for 90 min before pouring it according to the standard protocol. The modified procedure (micro preincubation or microsuspension) was approximately ten times more sensitive than the standard plate incorporation test for detecting mutagens in air particulate extracts and approximately ten to 31 times more sensitive for the chemical mutagens 2-nitrofluorene, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, 2-aminofluorene, and benzo(a)pyrene in bacterial strain TA98. Mutagenic activity was detected in particle extracts obtained from 1 m3 of air (17 micrograms of extract) or less. This microsuspension procedure was applied to air particulate samples collected with low-volume (15-50 liters per min) virtual-dichotomous air samplers. Mutagenic activity was associated exclusively with fine particles (aerodynamic diameters of less than 2.5 microns). Diurnal patterns of mutagenic activity (TA98 revertants per cubic meter air) were investigated by measuring filter extracts from 2-hr samples collected in three San Francisco Bay Area cities during the summer or fall of 1982. Four criteria pollutants--lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide--were simultaneously sampled at one location. Mutagenicity from fine particles sampled at this location was highly correlated with lead and much less correlated with nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide. The microsuspension procedure is applicable in testing samples of limited mass.

Aflatoxin in respirable airborne peanut dust

Laboratory shelling and pilot handling operations were conducted to determine if peanut dust generated by such operations contained significant amounts of aflatoxin. Air samples were collected from points of highest dust concentration. No aflatoxin B1 was detected in dust from uncontaminated lots. Aflatoxin B1 levels of 700 ppb and 7.6 ng/m3 were detected from highly contaminated lots. The contamination of the dust was directly proportional to the contamination of the lots handled or shelled. In the shelling tests, the level of contamination of the dust samples was about one-ninth of the level of contamination of the peanuts. In the handling tests, the level of contamination of the dust samples was about half the contamination level of the peanuts. These results indicate that most of the contaminated dust was probably removed by handling operations prior to shelling. Although workers are not routinely exposed to such levels of contaminated dust, these findings suggest the need for a more thorough study of peanut dust during handling or processing of contaminated peanuts.

Distribution of extractable mutagenic activity in steel foundry air particulates of different sizes

An Andersen 2000 sampler was used to collect different size classes of airborne particulate matter in a large steel foundry. When extracts of these particles were assayed for mutagenicity using the Ames Salmonella/S-9 assay, much of the mutagenic activity was found in particles of respirable size. Furthermore, mutagens requiring activation were distributed among the various size classes roughly in proportion to the total surface area of the particles with the smallest class (less than 1.1 micron) containing by far the largest amount of mutagenic activity. The distribution of direct-acting mutagenic activity was more variable and in some samples the bulk of this activity was in the largest size class (greater than 7.0 micron).