Atmospheric particulate matters in an Indian urban area: Health implications from potentially hazardous elements, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity studies

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2020-02, Vol.384, p.121472, Article 121472
• Main Authors: Islam, Nazrul, Dihingia, Anjum, Khare, Puja, Saikia, Binoy K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosol toxicity; Cell Line; Cities; DNA Fragmentation - drug effects; Enrichment factors; Excess carcinogenic risk; Genotoxicity; Hazardous Substances - analysis; Hazardous Substances - toxicity; Humans; India; Particulate Matter - analysis; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Polyaromatic hydrocarbons; Risk Assessment
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121472

[Display omitted] •The concentrations of particulate matters (PMs) were evaluated in pre-monsoon and post-mosoon seasons in Indian urbun area.•Potentially hazardous elements and polyaromati hydrocarbons show a significant seasonal variability.•The toxicity of PMs is subsequently concentration dependent and cause cell death and induce DNA fragmentation or apoptosis. The nature of the atmospheric particulate matters (PMs) varies depending on their sizes and their origin from different activities in the background environment. These PMs are associated with potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) such as organic compounds (e.g. Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons) that can be harmful to health. The main objective of this work is the identification and investigation of the toxicological aspects of PHEs in PMs during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season in an urban area of Northeast region (NER) of India. In the course of the study, the 24 -hs average concentrations of PMs were detected to be more than two-times higher than the Indian standard limit (NAAQ, category) which indicates poor air quality in both the seasons around the sampling sites. This study demonstrates that the concentrations of PM-bound PAHs are mutagenic and that the Excess Cancer Risks exceed the USEPA standard limits. PMs cause cytotoxicity and can also induce genotoxicity to human health analyzed by cell culture and gel electrophoresis. This study helps to promote research to evaluate the PMs bound PHEs toxicity in diverse human cell lines and also their relationship with climatic factors as well as quantitative source apportionment for mitigation purposes.