Qualitative assessment of the mutagenicity of road coating asphalt

Asphalt is primarily composed of oily materials, resins, asphaltenes, carbenes, and carboids. It also contains carcinogenic PAHs. The potential health problems due to asphalt exposure are poorly understood and relatively few studies have reported on the carcinogenic or mutagenic aspects of asphalt exposure. This study utilized the Salmonella/microsomal assay to make a preliminary determination of the mutagenic activity of the extracts of whole petroleum asphalts used in road paving. Results demonstrate that asphalt has the potential to induce a detectable mutagenic response in the Salmonella/microsomal assay.