Air levels and mutagenicity of PM-10 in an indoor ice arena.

The authors report here their results from a preliminary study to evaluate a methodology for surveying air quality by measuring concentrations of PM-10 and the corresponding concentrations of mutagenic activity. The PM-10 was collected, during several hockey games at an ice arena using an Indoor Air Sampling Impactor (IASI) developed by Marple et al. During the course of the study, smoking restrictions were imposed in the stadium and the impact of these restrictions on PM-10 levels was also evaluated. The mutagenic activities of solvent extracts of the PM-10 were determined using the microsuspension modification of the Samonella typhimurium/microsome test. Mutagenic activity has often been used as a rough index of exposure to potential carcinogens and mutagens and to help define their sources.