Characterization of cytotoxicity of airborne particulates from urban areas of Lahore

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) 2012-11, Vol.24 (11), p.2028-2034
• Main Authors: Ghauri, Badar, Mansha, M., Khalil, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air; Air Pollutants - chemistry; Air Pollutants - toxicity; antimony; arsenic; assays; cadmium; chromium; Cities; cobalt; colorimetry; cytotoxicity; dose response; Environmental Monitoring; humans; ICP-MS; in vitro toxicity; inhibitory concentration 50; lead; Lungs; manganese; Membranes; mercury; Metals - chemistry; Metals - toxicity; mixtures; Pakistan; particles; particulate matter; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Particulates; PM2; polytetrafluoroethylene; Polytetrafluoroethylenes; sampling; Teflon; Toxic; toxic substances; Toxicity; Toxicology; trace elements; Trace Elements - chemistry; Trace Elements - toxicity; Urban areas; 分析表征; 大气颗粒物; 市区; 有毒元素; 细胞毒性
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/S1001-0742(11)61040-1

A number of species （organic and inorganic） in airborne particulates cause the toxicity to living being. The potential of in vitro test methods were explored for toxicity assessment of trace toxic elements （inorganic species） present in ambient air on human being （lungs）. A year long sampling of airborne particles （PM2.5） was carded （April 2008 to March 2009） in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of thirty nine samples were collected on 47 mm Zefiuor Teflon filter membranes and each was analysed to characterize for the elements： Sb, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, Mn, Hg using ICP-MS in water extract and total acid digestate. The samples cytotoxicity was also established using lung derived cells and MTS colorimetric assays. This generated dose response curves and IC50 values for the elemental mixtures identified on the Teflon filter membrane. The results indicated that even at low concentrations airborne elemental mixtures displayed an additive toxic effect.