Abstract

MELENDEZ GELVEZ, Iván; MARTINEZ MONTANEZ, Mónica Liseth  and  QUIJANO PARRA, Alfonso. Mutagenic and genotoxic activity of particulate matter MP_2,5 in Pamplona, North Santander, Colombia. Iatreia [online]. 2012, vol.25, n.4, pp.347-356. ISSN 0121-0793.

Objective: To study the mutagenic and genotoxic activities of particulate material MP_2,5 collected in Pamplona, Norte de Santander, Colombia. Materials and methods: MP_2,5 was monitored by means of a Partisol 2025 sequential air sampler with Plus Palmflex quartz filters. The latter were subjected to two extraction procedures: Soxhlet extraction using dichloromethane-acetone; and ultrasonic extraction using dichloromethane, acetone and dichloromethane/ acetone mix. The mutagenic and genotoxic activities were determined for each extract. Results: This is the first study conducted in Colombia that reports the mutagenic and genotoxic activities associated with particulate matter (MP_2,5) taken from vehicular emissions in Pamplona, Norte de Santander. The mutagenic assay determined by the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 showed a high direct mutagenic activity in the analyzed extracts. On the other hand, the genotoxic activity, determined by means of the comet assay, was high too. Conclusion: Particulate material (MP_2,5) present in air samples in Pamplona (northeastern Colombia) is a risk factor for the exposed population because it can directly induce mutations and also cause genotoxic damage.

Keywords : Air Pollution; Colombia; Comet Assay; Particulate Matter; Mutagenicity Tests; Salmonella typhimurium.

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