Chemical and biological properties of diesel exhaust particles collected during selected segments of a simulated driving cycle.

Particle emissions, percentage of organic extractable materials, and mutagenicities of extracts from a diesel engine operating on a test stand have been determined for the full Federal Test Procedure driving cycle and several individual segments thereof. Particle samples were collected using a computer controlled high volume sampler. Extracts of the exhaust particles were screened for the potent mutagens nitropyrene/nitrofluoranthenes by mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Results indicate that a long acceleration from 0-55 mph produced approximately seven times more particles per second than the full cycle. Also, the 0- to 55-mph acceleration and a subsequent 55-mph cruise produced significantly higher amounts of mutagens than other segments or the full FTP cycle. A direct correlation of both NOx levels and temperature with mutagenicity was noted (r = 0.89 and r = 0.89). The specific activities of the extracts showed decreases or remained unchanged when assayed in TA-98 NR or TA-98 1,8 DNP6, nitroreductase deficient strains of TA-98. Three extracts were found to have high levels of nitropyrenes/nitrofluoranthenes, and two of the three had high specific activities in TA-98.