RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Assessing air quality by determining PM(10) genotoxicity in human lymphocytes at three locations in the Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia department). METHODS: Three sites were chosen in the Valle de Aburrá (Barbosa, Corantioquia and the School of Mines) using Colombian reference (50 g/m3) and PM(10) content values, having annual low (25 mg /m3), medium (44 ug/m3) and high PM(10) average (91 ug/m3). PM10filters were analyzed during three different seasons between 2011 and 2012: rainy, transitional and dry. Human lymphocytes were treated with the organic extract obtained from each filter to evaluate DNA damage using an alkaline comet assay. RESULTS: Genotoxicity was found to be highly significant (p<0.001) in all cases, compared to the negative control. The highest damage (six times) was seen in material from the School of Mines and during the transitional period. Differences were found between material from Barbosa and Corantioquia regarding that from the School of Mines concerning the induction of damage. CONCLUSIONS: Although the PM10 values reported for Barbosa and Corantioquia were below the maximum permitted level, genotoxic activity was found for PM10f rom both sites as well as for the School of Mines. These results show that physical-chemical monitoring of particulate matter is not enough for assessing the exposed population's relative risk. Such analysis should thus be accompanied by using genotoxicity biomarkers, such as the comet assay.
Assuntos
Dano ao DNA/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Material Particulado/toxicidade , Colômbia , HumanosRESUMO
Objetivo Evaluar la calidad del aire en tres sitios del Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia) a través de la determinación de la genotoxicidad del PM10 en linfocitos humanos. Métodos A partir del valor de referencia de PM10 para Colombia (50 μg/m3/año) se eligieron tres sitios del Valle de Aburrá con diferente promedio de PM10, Barbosa con 25 μg/m3, Corantioquia con 44 μg/m3y Facultad de Minas con 91 μg/m3. Los filtros de PM10 expuestos por 24 horas, se analizaron en la épocas de lluvia, transición y seca entre Julio de 2011 y abril de 2012. Con el extracto orgánico obtenido en cada filtro se trataron linfocitos humanos para evaluar in vitro el daño en el ADN por medio del ensayo Cometa Alcalino. Resultados Todos los sitios indujeron genotóxicidad altamente significativa (p< 0.001) respecto al control negativo, presentando el mayor daño durante la época de transición. Se observaron diferencias significativas (p<0.05) en la genotoxicidad inducida por el PM10 entre los tres sitios evaluados. Conclusiones Aunque los valores de PM10 reportados para Barbosa y Corantioquia fueron inferiores al nivel máximo permisible, se encontró actividad genotóxica del PM10 proveniente tanto de ellos como de Facultad de Minas cuyo valor de PM10 es superior a la norma. Estos resultados indican que únicamente el monitoreo fisicoquímico del material particulado es insuficiente para evaluar el riesgo relativo sobre la población expuesta. En consecuencia, estos estudios deben ser complementados con biomarcadores de genotoxicidad como el ensayo cometa.(AU)
Objective Assessing air quality by determining PM10 genotoxicity in human lymphocytes at three locations in the Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia department). Methods Three sites were chosen in the Valle de Aburrá (Barbosa, Corantioquia and the School of Mines) using Colombian reference (50 g/m3) and PM10content values, having annual low (25 mg /m3), medium (44 ug/m3) and high PM10 average (91 ug/m3). PM10filters were analyzed during three different seasons between 2011 and 2012: rainy, transitional and dry. Human lymphocytes were treated with the organic extract obtained from each filter to evaluate DNA damage using an alkaline comet assay. Results Genotoxicity was found to be highly significant (p<0.001) in all cases, compared to the negative control. The highest damage (six times) was seen in material from the School of Mines and during the transitional period. Differences were found between material from Barbosa and Corantioquia regarding that from the School of Mines concerning the induction of damage. Conclusions Although the PM10 values reported for Barbosa and Corantioquia were below the maximum permitted level, genotoxic activity was found for PM10from both sites as well as for the School of Mines. These results show that physical-chemical monitoring of particulate matter is not enough for assessing the exposed population's relative risk. Such analysis should thus be accompanied by using genotoxicity biomarkers, such as the comet assay.(AU)