[Study on mutagenicity of size-fractionated air particles]

Ames Salmonella assay and sister chromatid exchanges in CHO cells were used to study the mutagenic activity of size-fractionated air particles from outdoor air in Beijing, Taiyuan, Wuhan, Shenyang and the areas with high incidence of lung cancer in Xuanwei county. Five size particles were collected from each sampling points. The results indicate that: 1. The results of organic matter content in particles. 2. All of the samples have mutagenicity. There was negative correlation between mutagenicity and particle sizes, mutagenicity was increased with particle size reduced. The maximum mutagenicity was at the particle size less than 1.1 microns. So it is especially hazardous to human health. There was logarithmic correlation between organic matter content and revertants. Correlation coefficient was 0.98. Regression equation was gamma = 0.23 + 1.01 X. 3. The results showed that of the five sampling points air pollution at the high lung cancer incidence area of Xuanwei county was the most severe.