Monitoring Human Genotoxicity Risk Associated to Urban and Industrial Buenos Aires Air Pollution Exposure

M.A. GUTIERREZ; M.A. PALMIERI; D.S. GIULIANI; J.E COLMAN LERNER; G. MAGLIORE; D.ANDRINOLO; D.R. TASAT

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2020

0944-1344

The quality of life in large megacities is directly affected by its air quality. In urban environments, suspended particles from anthropogenic origin is one of the main air contaminants identified as highly genotoxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic. Atmospheric monitoring is therefore imperative and bioassays to detect the effects of genotoxic agents give usually excellent results. Analysis of micronucleus (MN) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells is a sensitive non-invasive method for monitoring genetic damage in human populations. The first aim of this study was to analyze and characterize levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in two areas from Buenos Aires: La Plata city, an urban (U) area and Ensenada, an industrial (I) area. Secondly we evaluated the possible health risk of its inhabitants through a simple genotoxic assay on exfoliated oral mucosa cells. Whole blood cell count and nuclear abnormalities frequencies were evaluated in the exfoliated oral mucosa cells from urban and industrial inhabitants. Smoking habit represented a significant factor increasing MN percentage while, age did not increased the production of any of the nuclear aberrations assayed (micronuclei, binucleated, karyorrhexis) when the inhabitants from the urban and the industrial areas were compared. In addition, changes in MN and binucleated cell percentages in males and females were found to be area-dependent. We suggest that regardless PM concentration, PM specific characteristics (size, shape, chemical elements, etc.) and VOCs levels could be responsible for the different harmful genotoxic effects seen in the two areas. Although this is a preliminary study, our results allowed to conclude that individuals living in both the urban and the industrial areas could be considered susceptible groups and should periodically undergo biological monitoring and appropriate care.