New bioelectrical impedance vector references and phase angle centile curves in 4,367 adults: The need for an urgent update after 30 years.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) represents a qualitative analysis of body composition. The vector, defined by resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) standardized by stature, can be evaluated compared to the 50%,75%, and 95% tolerance ellipses representative of the reference populations. The tolerance ellipses for healthy adults have been provided in 1995 and were developed by mixing underage, adult, and elderly subjects, possibly misrepresenting the actual adult population. The current multicentric, cross-sectional study aimed to provide new tolerance ellipses specific for the general adult population and as a secondary aim to present centile curves for the bioelectrical phase angle. METHODS: R, Xc, and phase angle were measured in 2137 and 2230 males and females using phase-sensitive foot-to-hand analyzers at 50 kHz. A minimum of 35 subjects were included for each sex and age category from 18 to 65 years. RESULTS: The new mean vectors showed a leftward shift on the R-Xc graph with respect to the former reference values (males: F = 75.3; p < 0.001; females: F = 36.6, p < 0.001). The results provided new 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentile curves for phase angle, identifying time point phases of decrement (males: -0.03° per year at 33.0-51.0 years and -0.05° per year after 51 years; females: -0.03° per year from 37.2 to 57.9 years). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the original references, the new data are characterized by a different distribution within the R-Xc graph with a higher phase angle. Thirty years after the BIVA invention, the current study presents new tolerance ellipses and phase angle reference values for the adult population.

Effectiveness of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) interventions in university employees: a scoping review.

Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) interventions proved to be effective in several workplace contexts. Currently, the effectiveness of such interventions in the academic workplace is lacking, albeit evidence suggests similar patterns to those occurring in other workplace sectors. The aim of this study was to review WHP interventions in the university workplace that led to improve health- and work-related outcomes. Articles were selected using Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo, Cinhal and FSTA, using search strings focused on health- and/or work-related outcomes and involving University WHP interventions published between January 2010 and July 2021. The majority of the 12 studies selected reported positive results in their individuality, especially regarding health-related outcomes [biological such as weight loss, physical activity, mental health and lifestyle habits] and work-related outcomes concerning improvements either for the employee or for the working system. Studies on economic advantage and Return on Investment were limited and reported contrasting results. In conclusion, we have highlighted how the studies on effectiveness of WHP interventions in the university context are few and heterogeneous and need to be encouraged further research in order to build specific guidelines that are effective.

Interventions concerning prevention promotion in the workplace, involving activities targeting lifestyle habits, nutrition and/or physical activity as well as general wellbeing, are growing and becoming more common due to their benefits on health and work outcomes. The aim of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of such interventions in the university workplace context to help create directed guidelines for their correct implementation in this setting. Although it was difficult to draw peculiar conclusions due to the heterogeneity of the programs described in the studies, the overall positivity of the results and the perspective university environment, outlook that the implementation of multicomponent and multilevel interventions would improve employees' wellness and favor universities' welfare.

Use of online and paper-and-pencil questionnaires to assess the distribution of orthorexia nervosa, muscle dysmorphia and eating disorders among university students: can different approaches lead to different results?

PURPOSE: Administration of questionnaires to assess the diffusion of disordered eating behaviours via the web is becoming common today. The aim of this study is to assess whether two different approaches of administering a test to assess traits of eating disorders (EDs), orthorexia nervosa (ON) and muscle dysmorphia (MD) by email recruitment and online completion (web-based survey-WBS) and by in person recruitment and paper-and-pencil completion (paper-based survey-PBS), gives different results. METHODS: During 2 consecutive academic years, a self-reported questionnaire consisting of questions about personal characteristics and three tests for the evaluation of ON (ORTO-15), MD (MDDI-ITA), and EDs (EAT-26) were administered to two groups of undergraduates, respectively, as a WBS and a PBS. RESULTS: The WBS response rate was 6.7% (N = 137), and the PBS response rate was 86.5% (N = 372). The WBS group showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of students with eating disordered behaviours (21.2% vs 5.4%) and registered a higher mean score on the EAT-26 test (13.5 ± 11.1 vs 6.0 ± 8.0); no differences between the two groups emerged for ON and MD prevalence and test scores. Moreover, in the WBS group, the number of students with one or more tests with test scores above the cut-off values was significantly higher (46.0% vs 32.3%). CONCLUSION: The choice of the approach to administer a questionnaire to assess the diffusion of EDs and related issues must take into account all the factors that can result in selection bias and that can affect the reliability of the results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, descriptive cross-sectional survey.

Relation among Perceived Weight Change, Sedentary Activities and Sleep Quality during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Study in an Academic Community in Northern Italy.

In Italy, COVID-19 lockdown was imposed from 8 March until 3 May 2020 with negative consequences on the lifestyles and health of people. Within this context, the paper aims: (i) to analyse the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on perceived weight changes; (ii) to evaluate factors associated with the perception of weight changes (Body Mass Index (BMI), sleep quality, time spent in sedentary activities), in an Italian academic community of students and workers. A total of 3666 participants took part in this cross-sectional study (2838 students and 828 workers, of whom 73.0% were female). T-test, Chi-square test and the two-way ANOVA were used. Results showed that 43.3% of participants perceived a weight gain. Workers experienced a more substantial increase in body weight (0.7 kg) compared to students (0.3 kg; p = 0.013). A significant difference between preobese/obese workers (0.9 kg) and students (-0.3 kg; p < 0.001) was found. Overall, 57.0% of the sample was characterized by high levels of sedentary activities. Sedentary people noticed a higher weight gain (0.4 kg) compared to less sedentary people (0.3 kg; p = 0.048). More than 45% of participants reported a worsening of sleep quality and showed a perceived increase in body weight (0.5 kg) in comparison to those who improved their sleep quality (no weight change; p = 0.001). Designing tailored interventions to promote health-related behaviours during lockdown periods is essential.

Anodic microbial community analysis of microbial fuel cells based on enriched inoculum from freshwater sediment.

The characterization of anodic microbial communities is of great importance in the study of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). These kinds of devices mainly require a high abundance of anode respiring bacteria (ARB) in the anode chamber for optimal performance. This study evaluated the effect of different enrichments of environmental freshwater sediment samples used as inocula on microbial community structures in MFCs. Two enrichment media were compared: ferric citrate (FeC) enrichment, with the purpose of increasing the ARB percentage, and general enrichment (Gen). The microbial community dynamics were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The enrichment effect was visible on the microbial community composition both during precultures and in anode MFCs. Both enrichment approaches affected microbial communities. Shannon diversity as well as ß-Proteobacteria and γ-Proteobacteria percentages decreased during the enrichment steps, especially for FeC (p < 0.01). Our data suggest that FeC enrichment excessively reduced the diversity of the anode community, rather than promoting the proliferation of ARB, causing a condition that did not produce advantages in terms of system performance.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of light emitted by incandescent, halogen, and LED bulbs on ARPE-19 and BEAS-2B cell lines.

LED technology has the extraordinary ability to reduce energy consumption, constituting an economic and ecological advantage, so it is planned to replace incandescent, halogen and other inefficient bulbs for public and domestic lighting with LEDs. LEDs present specific spectral and energetic characteristics compared with those of other domestic light sources, so the potential risks for human health of these bulbs need to be explored. The aim of this study was to assess cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of light emitted by different commercial light bulbs: incandescent, halogen, and two LED bulbs with different correlated color temperatures. The evaluation was done on ARPE-19 as a specific cell model for eye toxicity and on BEAS-2B as a good cell model for toxicology tests. Light induced mainly cytotoxic effects on ARPE-19 and DNA damage on BEAS-2B, so different cell lines showed different biological responses. Moreover, our findings indicate that among the four bulbs, cold LED caused the highest cytotoxic effect on ARPE-19 and the highest genotoxic and oxidative effect on BEAS-2B. Cold LED is probably able to cause more cellular damage because it contains more high-energy radiations (blue). These results suggest that LED technology could be a safe alternative to older technologies, but the use of warm LED should be preferred to cold LED, which can potentially cause adverse effects on retinal cells.

Physical Activity, Lifestyle Factors and Oxidative Stress in Middle Age Healthy Subjects.

Oxidative stress (OS) has been recognized to play a primary role in many acute and chronic diseases. Environmental and lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and dietary intake are involved in the oxidative balance, but their specific influence remains unclear. In order to contribute to a greater characterization of the oxidative status in relation to exercise training and to environmental and lifestyle factors, different biomarkers-pro-oxidant capacity (d-ROMs), anti-oxidant capacity (BAP), radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and DNA damage (8-OHdGuo)-were measured in biological samples of a group of healthy middle aged subjects. The evaluation of the investigated biomarkers highlighted a significant effect of exercise training on OS, measured as d-ROMs and 8OhdGuo, in subjects playing regular physical activity. An association of the OS status measured by DPPH and 8-OhdGuo with the condition of living in urban high traffic areas was also found. Otherwise dietary habits did not reveal any significant effect on OS levels by the investigated biomarkers. As a whole the results obtained in this investigation suggested that a correct lifestyle, with regular physical activity practice, contributes to control the OS status in middle age subjects.

Aerosol exposure and risk assessment for green jobs involved in biomethanization.

Anaerobic digestion is a consolidated biotechnology able to produce renewable energy from biomasses. In the European countries, quick growth of biogas production from different organic matrices including wastes has been observed. In relation to the characteristics and quantity of the anaerobic digestion of feedstock, there are different technologies, advantages and criticisms. An accurate occupational risk assessment and development of management tools for green jobs involved in the anaerobic digestion plants are due. The aim of this work is to assess the aerosol exposure for such workers, focusing on the bioaerosol risk. Full scale plants for the treatment of organic municipal waste, waste water treatment sludge, agro zootechnical and food producing byproducts were involved for this purpose. The bioaerosol levels were monitored during activities through culturing and biomolecular methods; moreover, the sub-fractionated PM10 and carried endotoxins were measured in different plant areas. Global microbial contamination is higher (>5000 UFC/m3) in the area where organic wastes are handled and pretreated, both for organic municipal waste plants - with a bacterial prevalence - and agro zootechnical plants - with a fungi prevalence. Moreover, the microbial contamination is higher where organic municipal waste is present in respect to other biomasses (ANOVA p < 0.01). Numerous pathogens are carried by the aerosol. HAdV-4 presence is lower than LOQ (50 gene copies/m3) in all the samples. Environmental PM10 reached the 280 µg/m3 level including PM3 for 78%. Endotoxin pollution overtakes the 90 EU/m3 limit sporadically. Personal PM4.5 reached 10 mg/m3 only for maintenance technicians in the pretreatment area for organic municipal waste. The risk can be evaluated under a quantitative and qualitative point of view highlighting risk management improvement for anaerobic digestion plants.

Microbial-chemical indicator for anaerobic digester performance assessment in full-scale wastewater treatment plants for biogas production.

Anaerobic digestion was introduced into wastewater treatment plants several years ago, but anaerobic digestion performance has not yet been achieved. The variability of the microbial community in digesters is poorly understood, and despite the crucial role of anaerobic digestion reactors, the microbial equilibrium that yields the best performance in these reactors has only recently been hypothesised. In this study, two full-scale continuous anaerobic reactors, placed in Torino's main wastewater treatment plant in northern Italy, were followed to develop a summary indicator for measuring anaerobic digestion performance. A total of 100 sludge samples were collected. The samples were characterised chemically and physically, and microbial groups were quantified by qRT-PCR. A chemical biological performance index strictly correlated to specific biogas production (rho=0.739, p<0.01) is proposed. This approach will produce new management tools for anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment plants.

Cytotoxic response in human lung epithelial cells and ion characteristics of urban-air particles from Torino, a northern Italian city.

Recently, much attention has been devoted to urban air pollution because epidemiological studies have reported health impacts related to particulate matter (PM). PM10 and PM2.5 were collected during different seasons in Torino, a northern Italian city, and were characterised by inorganic chemical species (secondary particulates and bio-available iron). The biological effects of aqueous and organic solvent PM extracts on human epithelial lung A549 were evaluated, and the effects on cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were assayed. The average PM10 concentration during the sampling period was 47.9 ± 18.0 µg/m(3); the secondary particles accounted for 49 % ± 9 % of the PM10 total mass, and the bio-available iron concentration was 0.067 ± 0.045 µg/m(3). The PM2.5/PM10 ratio in Torino ranged from 0.47 to 0.90 and was higher in cold months than in warm months. The PM10 and PM2.5 extracts inhibited cell proliferation and induced LDH release in a dose-dependent manner with a seasonal trend. The PM10 extract had a stronger effect on LDH release, whereas the PM2.5 extract more strongly inhibited cell proliferation. No significant differences were observed in the effects induced by the two extracts, and no significant correlations were found between the biological effects and the PM components evaluated in this study, thus emphasising the importance of the entire mixture in inducing a cytotoxic response.

Artificial turf football fields: environmental and mutagenicity assessment.

The public has recently raised concerns regarding potential human health and environmental risks associated with tire crumb constituents in the artificial turf of football fields. The aim of the present study was to develop an environmental analysis drawing a comparison between artificial turf football fields and urban areas relative to concentrations of particles (PM10 and PM2.5) and related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aromatic hydrocarbons (BTXs), and mutagenicity of organic extracts from PM10 and PM2.5. No significant differences were found between PM10 concentrations at an urban site and on a turf football field, both during warm and in cold seasons, either with or without on-field activity. PM2.5 concentrations were significantly greater at the urban site in the cold season as was the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10. BTXs were significantly greater at urban sites than on turf football fields on both on warm and cold days. The ratio of toluene to benzene (T/B ratio) was always comparable with that of normal urban conditions. The concentration of PAHs on the monitored football fields was comparable with urban levels during the two different sampling periods, and the contribution of PAHs released from the granular material was negligible. PM10 organic extract mutagenicity for artificial turf football fields was greater, whereas PM2.5 organic extract mutagenicity was lower, compared with the urban site studied. However, both organic extract mutagenicity values were comparable with the organic extract mutagenicity reported in the literature for urban sites. On the basis of environmental monitoring, artificial turf football fields present no more exposure risks than the rest of the city.

Application of a real-time qPCR method to measure the methanogen concentration during anaerobic digestion as an indicator of biogas production capacity.

Biogas is an energy source that is produced via the anaerobic digestion of various organic materials, including waste-water sludge and organic urban wastes. Among the microorganisms involved in digestion, methanogens are the major microbiological group responsible for methane production. To study the microbiological equilibrium in an anaerobic reactor, we detected the methanogen concentration during wet digestion processes fed with pre-treated urban organic waste and waste-water sludge. Two different pre-treatments were used in successive experimental digestions: pressure-extrusion and turbo-mixing. Chemical parameters were collected to describe the process and its production. The method used is based on real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) with the functional gene mcrA as target. First, we evaluated the validity of the analyses. Next, we applied this method to 50 digestate samples and then we performed a statistical analysis. A positive and significant correlation between the biogas production rate and methanogen abundance was observed (r = 0.579, p < 0.001). This correlation holds both when considering all of the collected data and when the two data sets are separated. The pressure-extrusion pre-treatment allowed to obtain the higher methane amount and also the higher methanogen presence (F = 41.190, p < 0.01). Moreover a higher mean methanogen concentration was observed for production rate above than of 0.6 m(3) biogas/kg TVS (F = 7.053; p < 0.05). The applied method is suitable to describe microbiome into the anaerobic reactor, moreover methanogen concentration may have potential for use as a digestion optimisation tool.

Chlorination in a wastewater treatment plant: acute toxicity effects of the effluent and of the recipient water body.

This study investigates the impact of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent on the toxicity of the recipient water body and the effectiveness of the disinfection treatment applied (sodium hypochloride) to assure the compliance of both microbiological and toxicological emission limits. No toxicity was found in the majority of samples collected from the recipient river, upstream and downstream of the WWTP, using three different toxicity tests (Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna, and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata). Only three samples presented toxic unit (TU) values with V. fischeri, and one presented TU with P. subcapitata. The influent toxicity ranged from slightly toxic to toxic (TU = 0.68-4.47) with V. fischeri, while only three samples presented TU values with the other tests. No toxicity was found in the absence of chlorination, while the mean toxicity was 3.42 ± 4.12 TU with chlorination in the effluent. Although no toxicity or very slight toxicity was found in the receiving water, its residual toxicity was higher than the US EPA Quality Standard in two samples. Escherichia coli concentration had a lower mean value in the chlorinated effluent: 13,993 ± 12,037 CFU/100 mL vs. 62,857 ± 80,526 CFU/100 mL for the not chlorinated effluent. This difference was shown to be significant (p < 0.05). E. coli in ten chlorinated samples was higher than the limit established by European and Italian Legislation. The mean highest trihalomethanes (THMs) value was found in the influent samples (2.79 ± 1.40 µg/L), while the mean highest disinfection by-products (DBPs) was found in the effluent samples (1.85 ± 2.25 µg/L). Significant correlations were found between toxicity, sodium hypochlorite, THMs, DBPs, E. coli, and residual chlorine. In conclusion, this study highlighted that the disinfection of wastewater effluents with sodium hypochlorite determines the increase of the toxicity, and sometimes is not enough to control the E. coli contamination.

Formaldehyde and tobacco smoke as alkylating agents: the formation of N-methylenvaline in pathologists and in plastic laminate workers.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the concentration of formaldehyde in air and the alkylation of hemoglobin to form a terminal N-methylenvaline residue in three occupationally exposed groups: a) technicians of pathology wards, b) workers of the plastic laminates industry, and c) a control group. All subjects recruited in this study were also tested on their smoking habits. METHODS: Formaldehyde adsorbed on passive air samplers was quantified by HPLC with UV detection (360 nm), cotinine was quantified by GC-MS. Terminal hemoglobin N-methylenvaline was determined by treating globine under reducing conditions with pentafluorophenyl isothiocyanate to yield a derivative, subsequently detected by GC-MS. One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare among the three groups the biomarkers considered in this study. RESULTS: For air-FA and N-methylenvaline a difference between the three groups was detected (p < 0.0001) and a significant higher concentration in the two professionally exposed groups was proved. Mean values for FA (µg/m(3)): group a) 188.6, group b) 210.1, and group c) 41.4; mean values for N-methylenvaline (nmol/g of globin): group a) 377.9, group b) 342.8, and group c) 144.8. Conversely, the comparison between the two professionally exposed groups, a) vs b), does not show any significant difference highlighting similar exposition to FA and, consequently, similar biological response. Tobacco smoke proves to have a minor impact on the formation of N-methylenvaline molecular adduct. CONCLUSIONS: A positive correlation was demonstrated between professional exposition to air-formaldehyde and hemoglobin alkylation to form N-methylenvaline molecular adduct in two occupationally exposed groups of subjects considered in the present study. In comparison with occupational exposition, tobacco smoke proved to have a minor impact on the formation of N-methylenvaline molecular adduct.

The role of different methanogen groups evaluated by Real-Time qPCR as high-efficiency bioindicators of wet anaerobic co-digestion of organic waste.

Methanogen populations and their domains are poorly understood; however, in recent years, research on this topic has emerged. The relevance of this field has also been enhanced by the growing economic interest in methanogen skills, particularly the production of methane from organic substrates. Management attention turned to anaerobic wastes digestion because the volume and environmental impact reductions. Methanogenesis is the biochemically limiting step of the process and the industrially interesting phase because it connects to the amount of biogas production. For this reason, several studies have evaluated the structure of methanogen communities during this process. Currently, it is clear that the methanogen load and diversity depend on the feeding characteristics and the process conditions, but not much data is available. In this study, we apply a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method based on mcrA target to evaluate, by specific probes, some subgroups of methanogens during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion process fed wastewater sludge and organic fraction of the municipal solid waste with two different pre-treatments. The obtained data showed the prevalence of Methanomicrobiales and significantly positive correlation between Methanosarcina and Methanosaetae and the biogas production rate (0.744 p < 0.01 and 0.641 p < 0.05). Methanosarcina detected levels are different during the process after the two pre-treatment of the input materials (T-test p < 0.05). Moreover, a role as diagnostic tool could be suggested in digestion optimisation.

Benzene and formaldehyde in air of two Winter Olympic venues of "Torino 2006".

The 20th edition of the Olympic Winter Games took place in Torino, Italy and in other 7 winter sport sites belonging to Torino district in February 2006. The Olympic Winter Games had competitions for 15 different sports, and involved around 2500 athletes, 650 judges and umpires, thousands of accredited journalists, and almost 2 million spectators. Aiming to conduct an environmental health survey related to this important event, and taking into account their known or suspected carcinogenicity properties, benzene (B) and formaldehyde (FA) were analyzed in air in two venues of the Torino Olympic Games: Torino and Pragelato. Air-FA and air-B were measured for a whole year with two fixed samplers and, during a whole competition day, with individual passive samplers worn by two groups of supporter volunteers chosen to represent the two sites. Air fixed measurements were simultaneously carried out in Torino and Pragelato all months from May 2005 to April 2006 while individual sampling were performed from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. on the 22th February 2006. On the whole, comparing Torino and Pragelato, air-B progress shows a significant and positive correlation (r=+0.572, p<0.01). The behaviour of air-FA is similar but not so evident. The secondary and primary origins of formaldehyde can justify the summer peak (June, July, and August 2005) but partially also January 2006. Comparing for Torino each February from 2005 to 2009 the "Olympic impact" on the quality of air is underlined but for benzene only. With a public health approach and considering the two venues, findings obtained by the individual samplers clearly show higher air pollution and, consequently, higher risk due to closer contact to several specific pollutant sources or environmental conditions.

Chemical characterisation and cytotoxic effects in A549 cells of urban-air PM10 collected in Torino, Italy.

Human type II alveolar cells (A549) were exposed to aqueous- and organic-solvent PM10 extracts to evaluate their effects on cell proliferation, proinflammatory cytokine release and cytotoxicity (assayed by lactate dehydrogenase, LDH, activity). PM10 samples collected in Torino (northwest Italy) were analysed for inorganic chemical species (bioavailable iron and secondary particulates) and endotoxins, which are potentially inflammatory promoters in human airways. During the sampling period, PM10 concentration was 55.4±39.1µg/m(3), secondary particles constituted 42±9% of the PM10 total mass, and bioavailable iron concentration was 0.078±0.095µg/m(3). PM10 inhibits cell proliferation and induces both IL-6 and LDH release in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with a seasonal trend. The different effects of aqueous and organic PM10 extracts demonstrate the importance of particle composition for the induction of cytotoxic effects on A549 cells. A first comparison between the biological effects induced by PM10 extracts and PM10 components was performed.

Mutagenic properties of PM2.5 urban pollution in the northern Italy: the nitro-compounds contribution.

PM2.5 is the breathable fraction of the particulate matter and some adverse health effects, such as respiratory functionality, cardiological diseases and cancer, can be in some measure attributable to this risk factor exposure. Some of the most carcinogen compounds transported by PM2.5 are nitro-compounds. In this study, a strengthened in vitro bioassay--able to predict the mutagenic/carcinogenic activity of the environmental mixtures--was conducted on PM2.5 organic extracts to define the nitro-compounds burden. PM2.5 air pollution was daily monitored, during 2006, in three cities located in the Northern part of Italy (Torino, Pavia and Verona) and the mutagenic properties of the PM2.5 organic extracts were assessed with the Ames test. The bacterial used in this study were three Salmonella typhimurium strains: TA98, nitroreductase-less mutant TA98NR and YG1021 carrying a nitroreductase-producing plasmid. The annual PM2.5 mean level measured in Torino was 46.5 (+/-31.6) microg/m(3), in Pavia 34.8 (+/-25.1) microg/m(3), and in Verona 37.3 (+/-27.8) microg/m(3), while the mutagenicity expressed as TA98 net reverants/m(3) was 28.0 (+/-22.1), 28.3 (+/-24.9), and 34.2 (+/-30.9) respectively. Monthly pool bioassays, conducted with the three different strains, showed a greater mutagenic response of the YG1021 in each city. The relationship among the mutagenic answers for YG1021:TA98:TA98NR was about 6:3:1 (p<0.001). Over nitroreductase activity enhanced the response of 2.2, 2.0 and 1.7 times for Torino, Pavia, and Verona (ANOVA Torino p<0.05) respectively. Without nitroreductase activity the genotoxicity was limited. These biological findings are able to describe a relevant role played by the nitro compounds in the mutagenic properties of the urban PM2.5 in the Padana plain; moreover the bacterial nitroreductase plays a predominant role in DNA interaction primarily for Torino PM2.5 extracts.

Mutagenic properties of PM2.5 air pollution in the Padana Plain (Italy) before and in the course of XX Winter Olympic Games of "Torino 2006".

PM2.5 is one of the most important aspects of environmental health. This air pollutant is breathable and it is implicated in several chronic adverse health effects such as the decrease of respiratory functionality and cancer. Several in vitro bioassays are able to predict the mutagenic/carcinogenic activity of the environmental pollutants and mixtures of them. In this study PM2.5 air pollution was daily monitored in three cities located in the Northern part of Italy and the mutagenic properties of the PM2.5 organic extracts were also assessed. Samplings lasted 14 months and cover the period of the Winter Olympic Games of "Torino 2006". In this work, the levels of PM2.5, its mutagenic properties (detected with Salmonella typhimurium assay), the role of the Olympic Games as environmental factor and some meteorological data are discussed. The mean concentration of PM2.5 measured in Torino was 45.4 (+/-30.6) microg/m3, in Pavia 37.6 (+/-25.6) microg/m3, in Verona 43.1 (+/-28.5) microg/m3. Findings of the monthly pool bioassay were in Torino 107 (+/-104) net revertans/m3, in Pavia 108 (+/-89) net revertans/m3, in Verona 128 (+/-109) net revertans/m3. The Olympic Games period data show that PM2.5 pollution and its load of mutagenic potential are different and partially independent phenomena. The Olympic Games had not a great impact on the PM2.5 pollution. The exclusive PM2.5 gravimetric analysis shows a potential human risk if compared with the latest international guide values but it does not describe exhaustively the human health risk associated to the presence of this particular air pollutant. Moreover, the chemical and biological activity qualification of the PM organic extracts as a whole, can instead improve the knowledge.