Detection of genotoxicity of atmospheric particles using a high-throughput microplate umu-test system.

A previously developed and highly sensitive umu-microplate test system based on the nitroreductase- and O-acetyltransferase-overproducing strain Salmonella typhimurium NM3009 and the O-acetyltransferase-overproducing strain S. typhimurium NM2009 was applied to the detection of genotoxic activity in atmospheric particles in urban areas using a relatively small sample load. The results showed that the test system was able to detect slight increases in induced genotoxicity in atmospheric particles and that genotoxicity was detected mainly in the fine fraction but also partially in the coarse fraction. The present sensitive microplate test system has potential for application to the screening of various other environmental samples.