Chemical characterization and biological properties of airborne particulate matter

Summary The presence of heavy metals and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) has been evidenced in airborne particulate matters samples collected in the atmosphere of a non-industrialized middle size Italian town (150.000 inhabitants). The PAH concentrations, higher in winter than in other seasons, was inversely correlated with some meteorological variables such as temperature (p<0.01) and wind speed (p<0.05). The positive correlation found (p<0.01) between lead and total PAH seems to indicate traffic as the most important source of pollution.All samples were mutagenic in the Ames test and the highest mutagenicity levels were obtained in winter samples. The positive correlation found between Benzo(a)Pyrene {B(a)P} concentration and the number of revertants/m³ air, suggests that B(a)P could be an index of mutagenic potential of the matrix considered.The airborne particulate matter extracts obtained by organic solvents were able to inhibit the phagocytosis of mice alveolar macrophages, giving further proof of the possibility of interaction between air-particulate chemical compounds and important biological functions.