GENOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF AMBIENT AIR POLLUTION IN THREE EUROPEAN CITIES: PRAGUE, KOŠICE AND SOFIA

Exposure of human hepatoma Hep G2 cells for two hours to extractable organic matter (EOM) adsorbed on respirable airborne particles <10 µm (PM10) resulted in a linear dose-dependent increase in DNA damage (p < 0.001). There were clear location- and season-related differences in ambient air genotoxicity based on the amount of EOM associated with PM10 per unit volume of air (EOM µg/m 3 ). These data were correlated with the concen- trations of benzo(a)pyrene, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total PAHs per cubic meter of air. No dose-dependent increase in the oxidative DNA damage (8-oxodG or M1dG adducts) was detected in EOM-exposed cells.