Mutagenicity of Diesel-Exhaust Particulates

Organic extracts of diesel- exhaust particulates were analyzed for mutagenicity using Ames Salmonella typhimurium assay system. An experimental diesel microbus used was drived on the chassis dynamometer according to CVS-75 mode. The samples were taken from the mixed gases in a dilution tunnel. With a high-volume air sampler equipped with double filter holders, particulate matters were collected on a teflon-coated glass fiber filter placed behind a activated carbon filter. After ultrasonic extraction with benzene- ethanol and evaporation to dryness, the residue was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide. Each sample was tested toward 2 strains, TA100 and TA98 by the pre-incubation method in the absence and presence of S-9mix. Average concentration of diesel- exhaust particulates was about 116.6mg/m$^3$, and 44.1~62.2 ％ to the total weight of particulates, consisted of organic matters. The mutagenicities of diesel- exhaust particulate organic matters were 4,512 and 2,205 revertants/m$^3$ toward TA100 without and with S-9mix, respectively. Those toward TA98 were 13,367 and 3,715 revertants/m$^3$, respectively.