Tradescantia micronucleus test indicates genotoxic potential of traffic emissions in European cities
2006
Klumpp, Andreas | Ansel, Wolfgang | Klumpp, Gabriele | Calatayud, Vicent | Garrec, Jean-Pierre, J.-P. | He, Shang | Penuelas, Josep | Ribas, Angela | Ro-Poulsen, Helge | Rasmussen, Stine | Sanz, María José | Vergne, Philippe | Institute for Landscape and Plant Ecology ; Universität Hohenheim = University of Hohenheim | Fundación CEAM | Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestières [devient SILVA en 2018] (EEF) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Lorraine (UL) | Chinese Academy of Forestry | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona = Autonomous University of Barcelona = Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB) | University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH) | École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon) ; Université de Lyon
International audience
Show more [+] Less [-]English. Urban atmospheres contain complex mixtures of air pollutants including mutagenic and carcinogenic substances such as benzene, diesel soot, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In the frame of a European network for the assessment of air quality by the use of bioindicator plants, the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) test was applied to examine the genotoxicity of urban air pollution. Cuttings of Tradescantia clone #4430 were exposed to ambient air at 65 monitoring sites in 10 conurbations employing a standardised methodology. The tests revealed an elevated genotoxic potential mainly at those urban sites which were exposed to severe car traffic emissions. This bioassay proved to be a suitable tool to detect local ‘hot spots’ of mutagenic air pollution in urban areas. For its use in routine monitoring programmes, however, further standardisation of cultivation and exposure techniques is recommended in order to reduce the variability of results due to varying environmental conditions.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Institut national de la recherche agronomique