DNA Damages in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Induced by Organic Extracts From Ambient Air Particulates With Various Diameters

Objective To explore the health effects of organic extracts from ambient air particulates with various diameters on the DNA damage of human peripheral blood lymphoctys. Methods Using a 5-stage air sampler, the ambient air particulats samples were collected in a residential area of Taiyuan city and were extracted with dichloromethane, acetone and methanol. The damage of DNA in human peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by organic extracts from ambient air particulates with various diameters at doses of 25, 50, 100 ,200 μg/ml were detected by sigle cell gelelectrophoresis assay. Results The toxic efficiency of organic extraction of ambient air particulates increased with the decreases of the diameters of particulates. The tail lengthes of the comets induced by organic extracts from ambient air particulcctes with various diameters 3.3 μm at all doses were significantly longer than those in negative control group (P0.01) except those induced by ambient air particulates with diameters of ≥7.0 μm and 3.3-7.0 μm at dose of 25 μg/ml. The shorter the diameters of the ambient air particulates were, the longer the tail lengthes of the comets appeared and the heavier the DNA damage was. Conclusion The organic extracts of ambient air particulates could result in the DNA breakage of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The shorter the diameters of ambient air partivulates were, the heavier the DNA damage was.