Objective: Assessing air quality by determining PM(10) genotoxicity in human lymphocytes at three locations in the Valle de Aburrá (Antioquia department).
Methods: Three sites were chosen in the Valle de Aburrá (Barbosa, Corantioquia and the School of Mines) using Colombian reference (50 g/m3) and PM(10) content values, having annual low (25 mg /m3), medium (44 ug/m3) and high PM(10) average (91 ug/m3). PM10filters were analyzed during three different seasons between 2011 and 2012: rainy, transitional and dry. Human lymphocytes were treated with the organic extract obtained from each filter to evaluate DNA damage using an alkaline comet assay.
Results: Genotoxicity was found to be highly significant (p<0.001) in all cases, compared to the negative control. The highest damage (six times) was seen in material from the School of Mines and during the transitional period. Differences were found between material from Barbosa and Corantioquia regarding that from the School of Mines concerning the induction of damage.
Conclusions: Although the PM10 values reported for Barbosa and Corantioquia were below the maximum permitted level, genotoxic activity was found for PM10f rom both sites as well as for the School of Mines. These results show that physical-chemical monitoring of particulate matter is not enough for assessing the exposed population's relative risk. Such analysis should thus be accompanied by using genotoxicity biomarkers, such as the comet assay.