Mutagenicity assessment of airborne particles from three polyurethane foam manufacturing facilities

In conjunction with industrial hygiene surveys, mutagenicity studies were performed for the airborne contaminants in three polyurethane manufacturing plants. Airborne particles were collected on glass-fiber filters with Hi-Vol pumps from different locations in each plant. Gases were collected in multiple-sorbent cartridges. The collected airborne particles and sorbent cartridges were extracted with organic solvents. Each extract was tested for mutagenic activity using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. The results showed that airborne particles from all three plants are mutagenic to TA98 with or without S9 activation. The mutagenicity with S9, however, was two to four times higher than that without S9. None of the samples of gases collected on sorbent cartridges showed mutagenic activity.