Physicochemical characteristics,mutagenicity and genotoxicity of airborne particles under industrial and rural influences in Northern Lebanon

In this work, the main objectives were to assess the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of fine particulate matter collected in an industrial influenced site in comparison with a non-industrial influenced one (rural site) and to relate the particulate matter (PM) composition to the observed genotoxic effects. At the industrial influenced site, higher concentrations of phosphates, trace metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particles could be related to the contributions of quarries, fertilizer producer, cement plants, and tires burning. Gasoline and diesel combustion contributions were evidenced in particles collected at both sites. Particles collected under industrial influence showed a higher mutagenic potential on three tested strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA98, YG1041, and TA102), and especially on the YG1041, compared to particles from the rural site. Furthermore, only particles collected in the vicinity of the industrial site showed a tendency to activate the SOS responses in Escherichia coli PQ37, which is indicative of DNA damage as a result of exposure of the bacteria cells to the action of mutagenic samples. The mutagenicity and genotoxicity of the industrial PM_2.5–0.3 particulates may be attributed to its composition especially in organic compounds. This study showed that proximity of industries can affect local PM composition as well as PM genotoxic and mutagenic potential.     

Heavy metals in four fish species from the French coast of the Eastern English Channel and Southern Bight of the North Sea

Shallow coastal waters act as nurseries for various fish species and have been recognized as essential fish habitat. We studied heavy metal concentrations in four fish species (plaice, dab, flounder and cod) as an indicator of large-scale habitat quality. The study took place along the French coasts between the Eastern English Channel and the Southern Bight of the North Sea. All species show different concentrations of measured metals (e.g., Cd, Cu, Mn and Pb) in liver but not in muscle. The highest concentrations are found for the flounder and the lowest for cod which is consistent with their habitat and diet. Although our results do not highlight levels of appreciable pollution within the study area, inter-site differences are mainly observed in the muscle tissues and are generally in agreement with the known environmental data (e.g., anthropogenic pressure). However, in the Bay of Seine, one of the most contaminated estuaries in Europe, metal concentrations are in the same range or even lower than those found in fish collected from areas distant from any anthropogenic pressures. At one site, the comparisons of the Cd, Cu and Pb concentrations between healthy and diseased dabs have been carried out on the muscle and liver tissues. The results of this preliminary study show a relationship between metal concentrations and the pathological status of the fish. The use of fish health as indicator of habitat quality is discussed.     

PM2.5 source apportionment in a French urban coastal site under steelworks emission influences using constrained non-negative matrix factorization receptor model

The constrained weighted-non-negative matrix factorization(CW-NMF) hybrid receptor model was applied to study the influence of steelmaking activities on PM_(2.5)(particulate matter with equivalent aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) composition in Dunkerque,Northern France. Semi-diurnal PM_(2.5)samples were collected using a high volume sampler in winter 2010 and spring 2011 and were analyzed for trace metals, water-soluble ions, and total carbon using inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES),ICP- mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), ionic chromatography and micro elemental carbon analyzer. The elemental composition shows that NO_3~-, SO_4~(2-), NH_4~+and total carbon are the main PM_(2.5)constituents. Trace metals data were interpreted using concentration roses and both influences of integrated steelworks and electric steel plant were evidenced. The distinction between the two sources is made possible by the use Zn/Fe and Zn/Mn diagnostic ratios. Moreover Rb/Cr, Pb/Cr and Cu/Cd combination ratio are proposed to distinguish the ISW-sintering stack from the ISW-fugitive emissions. The a priori knowledge on the influencing source was introduced in the CW-NMF to guide the calculation. Eleven source profiles with various contributions were identified: 8 are characteristics of coastal urban background site profiles and 3 are related to the steelmaking activities. Between them,secondary nitrates, secondary sulfates and combustion profiles give the highest contributions and account for 93% of the PM_(2.5)concentration. The steelwork facilities contribute in about 2%of the total PM_(2.5)concentration and appear to be the main source of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn.     

Total mercury in marine species from the French coast of the Eastern English Channel

Mercury (Hg) in fish can present a potential risk to wildlife and human consumers. Mercury levels were determined in 12 fish species and 2 invertebrate species from the French coast of the Eastern English Channel collected in June and November 2012. Total mercury concentrations in the muscle tissues ranged between 0.04 and 1.63 µg g^-1 (d.w.). Dab and sandeel displayed a significant positive correlation between Hg concentrations and fish length. Seasonal differences in Hg concentrations were observed for dab and shrimp. The lesser weever showed significantly higher concentrations of Hg (0.97 ± 0.34 µg g^-1 d. w.) than all other species. Gobies and sprat, which had the smallest size, showed significantly lower concentrations than herring, whiting, pout and sardine. Among the considered species, flatfish such as dab, flounder, plaice and sole displayed intermediate levels of Hg. In the present study, the fish age expressed as specimen length seems to be one of the major factors governing Hg contents in muscle tissues. Finally, mercury concentrations in commercial fish from the Eastern English Channel were below the levels fixed by the European Union for total mercury in edible parts of fish products.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives in airborne particulate matter: sources,analysis and toxicity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are worldwide pollutants produced mainly during incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of organic substances. PAH derivatives are components with hydrogen on the aromatic ring substituted by carbonyl-, nitro- and hydroxyl-functional groups (N-PAH, O-PAH or OH-PAH), or a group of heterocyclic PAHs containing one sulfur atom in place of a carbon atom in the aromatic ring. PAHs and their derivatives can be either introduced in the atmosphere directly in this form as primary pollutants, or formed by homogenous and heterogeneous oxidation reactions. During the last decades, interest on studying PAH derivatives has increased because derivatives may be more harmful than parent compounds. PAH derivatives have been detected in the atmospheric particulate matter in numerous cities worldwide. PAH derivatives enter living organisms by inhalation, oral ingestion and dermal contact. In vivo and in vitro experiments together with epidemiological studies have shown the toxic effects of PAH derivatives, notably for compounds present in airborne and diesel exhaust particles. Here we review the sources, the mechanisms of formation, the physicochemical properties, the analytical methods, and the toxicological effects of PAHs and their derivatives in airborne particulate matter.     

Essential oil components decrease pulmonary and hepatic cells inflammation induced by air pollution particulate matter

Outdoor air pollution and fine particulate matter (PM) were recently classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The exposure to airborne particulate matter also contributes to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, which are major public health concerns. Up to now, no work has evaluated the ability of essential oils as an alternative medicine to relieve the adverse health effects caused by airborne particulate matter. Here, we investigated for the first time the effects of four essential oil components, trans-anethole, estragole, eugenol and isoeugenol, on the reduction in inflammation induced by particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) and human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. Anethole is a flavor component of anise and fennel, estragole is occurring in basil, eugenol occurs in clove bud oil and isoeugenol occurs in ylang-ylang. Essential oil components were tested either as free or hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-encapsulated forms. Control experiments showed that particulate matter (PM_2.5) induced inflammation by secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Our results show that the addition of either free or encapsulated essential oil components to particulate matter exposed cells decreased up to 96 % the cytokine IL-6 level, and by up to 87 % the cytokine IL-8 level. Overall our findings evidence for the first time that natural essential oil components counteract the inflammatory effects of particulate matter and that encapsulation in cyclodextrins preserved their properties.     

Methods for the assessment of health risk induced by contaminants in atmospheric particulate matter: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Air pollution is a major issue for human health with more than 7 million premature deaths per year due to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Exposure to particulate...     

PM2.5 characterization of primary and secondary organic aerosols in two urban-industrial areas in the East Mediterranean

Primary and secondary organic aerosols in PM_2.5 were investigated over a one-year campaign at Zouk Mikael and Fiaa, Lebanon. The n-alkanes concentrations were quite similar at both sites (26-29 ng/m³) and mainly explained by anthropogenic emissions rather than natural ones. The concentrations of total Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were nearly three times higher at Zouk Mikael (2.56 ng/m³) compared to Fiaa (0.95 ng/m³), especially for indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene linked to the presence of the power plant. A characteristic indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene/(indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene + benzo[g,h,i]perylene) ratio in the range 0.8-1.0 was determined for heavy fuel oil combustion from the power plant. Fatty acids and hopanes were also investigated and were assigned to cooking activities and vehicular emissions respectively. Phthalates were identified for the first time in Lebanon with high concentrations at Zouk and Fiaa (106.88 and 97.68 ng/m³ respectively). Moreover, the biogenic secondary aerosols revealed higher concentrations in summer. The total terpene concentration varied between 131 ng/m³ at Zouk Mikael in winter to 469 ng/m³ at Fiaa in summer. Additionnally, the concentrations of the dicarboxylic acids especially for adipic and phthalic acids were more influenced by anthropogenic sources.The analysis of molecular markers and diagnostic ratios indicated that the sites were strongly affected by anthropogenic sources such as waste open burning, diesel private generators, cooking activities, road transport, power plant, and industrial emissions. Moreover, results showed different pattern during winter and summer seasons. Whereas, higher concentrations of biogenic markers were clearly encountered during the summer period.     

Characterisation and seasonal variations of particles in the atmosphere of rural, urban and industrial areas: Organic compounds

Atmospheric aerosol samples(PM_(2.5–0.3), i.e., atmospheric particles ranging from 0.3 to2.5 μm) were collected during two periods: spring–summer 2008 and autumn–winter 2008–2009, using high volume samplers equipped with cascade impactors. Two sites located in the Northern France were compared in this study: a highly industrialised city(Dunkirk) and a rural site(Rubrouck). Physicochemical analysis of particulate matter(PM) was undertaken to propose parameters that could be used to distinguish the various sources and to exhibit seasonal variations but also to provide knowledge of chemical element composition for the interpretation of future toxicological studies. The study showed that PM2.5–0.3concentration in the atmosphere of the rural area remains stable along the year and was significantly lower than in the urban or industrial ones, for which concentrations increase during winter.High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), dioxins, furans and dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls(DL-PCBs), generated by industrial activities, traffic and municipal wastes incineration were detected in the samples. Specific criteria like Carbon Preference Index(CPI) and Combustion PAHs/Total PAHs ratio(CPAHs/TPAHs) were used to identify the possible sources of atmospheric pollution. They revealed that paraffins are mainly emitted by biogenic sources in spring–summer whereas as in the case of PAHs, they have numerous anthropogenic emission sources in autumn-winter(mainly from traffic and domestic heating).