| Abstract: | Airborne particulate samples were collected on a glass fiber filter or quartz filter using Hi-volume air sampler from November, 1980 through February, 1983 at a west part of Yahata district, Japan. The concentrations of airborne particulates, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), heavy metals and dustfall were determined, and mutagenic activities of tarry materials obtained from suspended particulates were also measured. The following results were obtained. (1) The airborne particulate contents were 22.1 - 188 mg/1000 m3 (mean : 74.6 mg/1000 m3), and the values were high in spring and low in summer. (2) PAH contents in airborne particulates were in the following order: benzo(ghi)perylene greater than benzo(a)pyrene greater than benz(a)anthracene greater than chrysene greater than benzo(k)fluoranthene greater than pyrene greater than perylene. PAH contents were higher in winter that in summer. The benzo(a)pyrene contents were 1.97 micrograms/1000 m3 in 1981 and 1.92 micrograms/1000 m3 in 1982. (3) Heavy metals content was about 2.1 - 3.6 higher in winter in comparison with that in summer time. (4) Mutagenic activity showed 90 - 11900 revertants/1000 m3 for TA 98 strain with S-9 mix and 50 - 7190 revertants/1000 m3 for TA 98 strain without S-9 mix. Mutagenic activities for TA 98 with S-9 mix were higher than those for TA 98 without S-9 mix. (5) As a result of the analysis of airborne particulate samples, a significant correlation was observed between mutagenic activities and the concentrations of PAH and heavy metals. These results indicated that the mutagenic survey may be useful as an index for air pollution study. |
