Ectopic activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), also known as dioxin-like activity, is a major component of the toxicity associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Filtration of ambient air particulate matter through PM10 filters followed by chemical determination of PAH concentrations and a yeast-based bioassay (RYA) were combined to evaluate and characterize dioxin-like activity in ambient air. Samples were collected in a semirural area of Northern Italy between September 2008 and February 2009. Total PAH contents ranged between 0.3 ng/m3 and 34 ng/m3 28 and were in correlation with seasonal variations of meteorological conditions and combustion processes. Dioxin-like activity values in air samples showed an excellent correlation (0.71 < R2 31 < 0.86) with the observed PAH concentrations and the predicted toxicity equivalents for PAH. This RYA bioassay reported in the present study provides a simple and low-cost routine control for toxic PAH emissions, even at background air concentration levels.

OLIVARES Alba;  VAN DROOGE Barend;  PEREZ BALLESTA Pascual;  GRIMALT Joan O.;  PIÑA Benjamin; 

2010-12-02

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

JRC60687

1352-2310,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC60687,   

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.09.039,