Characterization of genotoxic components in sediments by mass spectrometric techniques combined with Salmonella/microsome test.

The application of Salmonella/microsomal mammalian tests to column chromatography fractions isolated from river and marine sediments collected in the vicinity of Barcelona city, Spain, demonstrated a positive response (TA98 + S9 mix) among the polar fractions. Chemical analysis by high resolution gas chromatography coupled to negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HRGC-NICI MS) provided sensitivity and selectivity to detect several mutagenic chemical classes. Among them, nitrated PAHs, azaarenes, aromatic amines, anhydrides, and ketones were identified. A total of 116 compounds were tentatively identified, 22 for the first time, of which 16 possessed mutagenic activity. However, a lack of correlation between chemical composition and fraction mutagenicity in the medium polarity fractions, especially in the river sediment, was evidenced. The occurrence of multiple interactions between components in spiked organic extracts is demonstrated.