Reduction of particulate air pollution lowers the risk of heritable mutations in mice |
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Authors: | Somers Christopher M McCarry Brian E Malek Farideh Quinn James S |
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Institution: | Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. |
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Abstract: | Urban and industrial air pollution can cause elevated heritable mutation rates in birds and rodents. The relative importance of airborne particulate matter versus gas-phase substances in causing these genetic effects under ambient conditions has been unclear. Here we show that high-efficiency particulate-air (HEPA) filtration of ambient air significantly reduced heritable mutation rates at repetitive DNA loci in laboratory mice housed outdoors near a major highway and two integrated steel mills. These findings implicate exposure to airborne particulate matter as a principal factor contributing to elevated mutation rates in sentinel mice and add to accumulating evidence that air pollution may pose genetic risks to humans and wildlife. |
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