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BIOASSAY OF COMPLEX MIXTURES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
Citation:
Lewtas, J., L. Claxton, J. Mumford, AND G. Lofroth. BIOASSAY OF COMPLEX MIXTURES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-90/242 (NTIS PB91162560), 1990.
Description:
Indoor air pollution is a complex mixture of chemicals originating from outdoor air and indoor sources. oxicology studies of these mixtures are limited by difficulties in obtaining indoor air samples or appropriately simulated exposures. he concentration of pollutants from indoor sources is often higher than outdoors due to additional sources and the smaller mixing volume of air in homes. Human exposure to these mixtures is generally higher than outdoor exposures because of the pollutant concentration and indoor exposure time. ioassay studies of these complex mixtures provide data critical to the assessment of potential human health effects of indoor air pollutants. here are several strategies for conducting bioassay studies of indoor air pollutant mixtures. ne approach is to generate indoor pollutants from sources under laboratory conditions suitable for human, animal, or in vitro bioassay studies. his approach was used extensively to evaluate tobacco smoke (IARC, 1986) and to a lesser extent for other indoor combustion sources such as kerosene heaters (Traynor et al., 1986). econd approach is to simulate these complex mixtures by simpler mixtures of pure chemicals which can be used in biological studies (Gammage & Kaye, 1985). The third approach, which is described in more detail here, is to use bioassays in the direct evaluation of complex mixtures of indoor air pollutants. he mixtures of organics found indoors from combustion sources, building materials, household products and human activities are extremely complex. hey consist of thousands of components which are not well characterized or quantified. any of these mixtures and certain components are potential human carcinogens. he development of short-term bioassays to detect mutagens and potential carcinogens (Ames, et al., 1975) has facilitated studies of complex mixtures including air pollutants and combustion emissions (Lewtas, 1985). his chapter will focus on the development and application of bacterial mutagenicity assays to complex mixtures of indoor air pollutants.