Effect of diesel exhaust emissions, particulates, and extract on sister chromatid exchange in transplacentally exposed fetal hamster liver

The genotoxic activity of diesel exhaust emissions, particulate matter, and an organic extract of the particulate matter was evaluated in transplacentally exposed Syrian hamster fetal liver cells. The frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was determined on day 13 of gestation. The extract of diesel particulate matter caused a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of SCE with a doubling in the incidence above 320mg/kg. The diesel particulate matter and diesel exhaust emissions did not alter the frequency of SCE. The extract and particulate matter did cause a dose-dependent decrease in the mitotic activity of the fetal liver. The in utero SCE analysis was demonstrated to be a sensitive assay for determination of the genotoxic activity of a complex mixture in transplacentally exposed fetuses.