Occupational and environmental levels of mutagenic PAHs and respirable particulate matter associated with diesel exhaust in Santiago, Chile

This work studied the mutagenic potential and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels onto PM₁₀ collected in diesel revision plants, in an urban area as well as in a rural area in Santiago, Chile. The PM₁₀ average levels in diesel emission plants during working hours (there is no occupational PM₁₀ Chilean standard) were significantly higher than the atmospheric Chilean PM₁₀ standard and highly mutagenic and with high PAHs levels. Additionally, we evaluated the contribution of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms on 1-OH-pyrene urinary levels. The diesel-exposed workers carrying the CYP1A1*2A allele showed significantly higher 1-OH-P levels than the subjects from the rural area with the same genotype. The higher levels of 1-OH-P were found in individuals carrying the combined CYP1A1*2A and GSTM1 null genotype. This kind of information might be relevant to establish prevention, protection, and mitigation actions to protect public health.