[The genotoxicity of air particles tested by SOS chromotest]

Samples of variously-sized total suspended particles in the air of one sampling site of TaiYuan city were collected. The samples were extracted with acid and a simulated lung fluid (SLF) respectively. Both extracts mainly consisted of metallic elements. Using SOS chromotest as a means to test the gentoxity of the extracts and five metallic compounds, namely Cr6+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Mn2+ and Cd2+ were tested first. All the compounds tested could induce the SOS response to various extent, showing that the method was sensitive to metallic compounds. For the extracts of air particles, both the extracts of acid and of SLF of the smaller-sized particles could induce SOS response. This indicated the existence of metaklic genotoxicants in the smaller-sized particles. Being convenient to use fast and precise, the SOS Chromotest has its unique advantage for detecting carcinogenic metallic compounds.