1989 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 244-251
A highly sensitive ultramicro forward-mutation assay using Salmonella typhimurium TM677 was achieved by the introduction of micro-vessel in the preincubation step. This assay was about 10 times higher in sensitivity than the micro forward-mutation assay and was able to measure mutagenicity of extracts from airborne particulates obtained by only 3m3 air sampling. Repeatability of this assay was nearly same with that of the micro forward-mutation assay, that is, the coefficient of variation of the mutation frequency for airborne particulate extracts was 12.3% in the test condition without S9 mix and 13.7% with S9 mix. This assay was applied to the measurement of hourly variation mutagenic activity of airborne particulates indoors and outdoors, and revealed that mutagenic activity of indoor air was generally higher than that of outdoor air and that the mutagenic activity indoors in the absence of S9 mix was well correlated with human activity.
It was also found by this assay and PAH analysis that indoor pollution by carcinogens and mutagens was largely affected by cigarette smoking and an air cleaner was useful for the reduction of indoor pollution by mutagens and PAHs.
