Evaluation of Motor Vehicle and Other Combustion Emissions Using Short-Term Genetic Bioassays

摘要

Short-term genetic bioassays have been useful in evaluating uregulated organic combustion emissions from motor vehicles. Identification of mutagens and carcinogens in complex exhaust emissions has been greatly facilitated by the use of bioassay-directed fractionation and characterization methods. It has also been possible to evaluate the effect of fuels, engine types, and control technologies on the rates of mutagenic emissions from motor vehicles. Greater differences in the rate of mutagenic emissions have been observed between different engines (e.g., diesel vs. gasoline) and control technologies (e.g., with and without catalyst) than between different fuels. A comparative evaluation of various combustion sources indicates that motor-vehicle emissions make a major contribution to the mutagenicity observed in ambient air.