PM₁₀ exposure in beauty salons: impact on A549 cell viability, cell cycle, oxidative stress, and mutagenicity

Beauty salons are unique indoor environments where elevated PM₁₀ levels may arise from frequent use of personal care and cosmetic products, potentially exposing salon workers and clients to harmful chemicals. This study aimed to assess the biological effects of PM₁₀ collected indoors and outdoors of a beauty salon, as well as the mutagenic potential of PM₁₀-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using the MTT test, a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed in human alveolar adenocarcinoma cells (A549) exposed to PM₁₀, with indoor samples causing more pronounced effects than outdoor and background air. Indoor PM₁₀ exposure also increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused an arrest in the G1 phase of cell cycle. These biological responses were correlated with the concentrations of various compounds, including organic carbon (OC), aliphatic carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and alkyl esters of fatty acids. No mutagenic effects were observed for all PAH samples tested using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98. The findings suggest that beauty salons might have elevated levels of PM₁₀, capable of inducing cytotoxic and oxidative stress-related effects and cell cycle disruption. Although no mutagenic activity was detected, the presence of harmful chemicals highlights potential health risks for workers and clients.