Genotoxic and ultrastructural evidences of damage induced by fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) air particulate matter on murine macrophages

Urban air, particularly in high traffic areas, contains mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, including organic compounds such as benzene and inorganic compounds such as nickel and chromium. Extracts of urban urban air particulates induce cancer in animals and are mutagenic in bacteria and mammalian cells. In recent years, the increase of PM10 (coarse) and PM 2,5 (fine) particulate matter, particles with equivalent diameter less than 10 µm and 2,5 µm, respectively, has been associated with an increased of cardiorespiratory mortality and respiratory-related emergency departement visit. Correlation between mutageniticy data, airborne micropollutants, and meteorological parameters were established. In this work we have evaluated a) the genotoxic effects of fine and coarse airborne particles collected in L’Aquila (a town in the Central Italy) on the cell line RAW 264.7 macrophages b) the ultrastructural evidences of damage induced by fine and coarse air particulate matter. The results of the treatments with fine, as compared with those with coarse PM, give evidence for the major cito- and genotoxicity of the fine one on murine macrophages.