Abstract

MENDOZA-ZAPATA, Lady C.; OROZCO-JIMENEZ, Luz Y.; ZAPATA-RESTREPO, Lina M.  and  PALACIO-BAENA, Jaime A.. Genotoxicity in human lymphocytes exposed to PM₁₀ from three sites in the Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia). Rev. salud pública [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.2, pp.294-306. ISSN 0124-0064.

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.

Keywords : Environmental pollution; biomarker; genotoxicity; comet assay.

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