IDENTIFICATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) IN THE AIR IN CUCUTA, COLOMBIA: GENOTOXIC EFFECT IDENTIFICATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) IN THE AIR IN CUCUTA, COLOMBIA: GENOTOXIC EFFECT

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a boom in third-world countries, including those in Latin America, regarding the study of human exposure to combustion emissions, including ultrafine particles (PM2.5) and mutagenic and carcinogenic components, such as aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study identified a group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) recognized for their effects on health of the population in the city of Cucuta, Colombia; the PAHs found were: methylchrysene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, benzo[c]fluorene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene. The genotoxic effect of the particulate matter, extracted with acetone and dichloromethane, was also evaluated in vitro using comet assay.