New approach methods for assessing indoor air toxicity.

Indoor air is typically a mixture of many chemicals at low concentrations without any adverse health effects alone, but in mixtures they may cause toxicity and risks to human health. The aim of this study was by using new approach methods to assess the potential toxicity of indoor air condensates. In specific, different test methods including cyto-and immunotoxicity, skin sensitization and endocrine disruption were applied.

Mutagenicity of airborne particulate matter PM10.

Mutagenic activity of extractable organic matter (EOM), from airborne particles collected over winters in four towns of Czech Republic, was investigated by the means of Salmonella typhimurium indicator strains TA98 and YG1041 using the Ames plate incorporation assay. Mutagenicity of all tested samples showed significant dose-related increase in number of revertants per mg of EOM. The direct mutagenic potency detected with TA98 increased further in the presence of external metabolic activation.

Study of the genotoxicity of toluene.

Chromosome analysis was conducted for peripheral lymphocytes of 23 printers exposed to toluene concentrations of 590 mg/m3 in a rotary machine workshop and to rotogravure printing inks. The percentages of aberrant cells were 2.30 in the printers and 1.

Mutagenicity monitoring of airborne particulate matter (PM10) in the Czech Republic.

The mutagenic activities associated with inhalable airborne particulate matter (PM10) collected over a year in four towns (Czech Republic) have been determined. The dichloromethane extracts were tested for mutagenicity using the Ames plate incorporation test and the Kado microsuspension test both with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and its derivative YG1041 tester strains in the presence and absence of S9 mixture. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of both bacterial mutagenicity tests and to choose the appropriate indicator strain for monitoring purposes.