Sources of mutagens in contra costa county community aerosols during pollution episodes: Diurnal variations and relations to source emissions tracers

This study measured the mutagenic activity of ambient aerosol extracts collected in Contra Costa Country, CA, and quantitated a number of organic compounds which contribute to the mutagenicity. Air sampling was carried out at four locations during 36-h pollution episodes in August and October 1981 and in January 1982. Three 12-h daytime and nighttime samples were collected. Solvent extracts of particulate organic matter (POM) were analyzed for mutagenic activity in the Ames Salmonella test and for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Pb, Ni, Fe, NO 3 −, SO 4 2−, O 3, CO, NO, NO 2, and SO 2 were also measured. Diurnal variation in mutagenicity and chemical pollutant concentrations were compared. Mutagenicity was found to be consistently and strongly associated with lead-containing fine particles (