Micronuclei levels in mothers and their newborns from regions with different types of air pollution

The aim of this study was to analyze genetic damage in human lymphocytes measured using automated image analysis of micronuclei (MN) in a group of 178 mothers and their newborns from two locations in the Czech Republic. The concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and benzene were measured by stationary monitoring in the winter season of 2008/2009 in the capital city of Prague and in Ceske Budejovice, a regional city in a rural area. The 3-month mean concentration of B[a]P before delivery was lower in Prague in comparison with Ceske Budejovice: 1.9 ± 0.5 ng/m3 vs. 3.2 ± 0.2 ng/m3 (p < 0.001). The opposite trend was found for PM2.5 and benzene: 27.0 ± 2.5 μg/m3 and 2.5 ± 0.5 μg/m3 vs. 24.5 ± 0.7 μg/m3 and 2.1 ± 0.8 μg/m3 (p < 0.001) for Prague vs. Ceske Budejovice, respectively. The average age of the mothers was 31 years (range, 18–49 years). The frequencies of MN per 1000 binucleated cells were 8.35 ± 3.06 vs. 6.47 ± 2.35 (p < 0.001) for mothers from Prague and Ceske Budejovice, respectively, and 2.17 ± 1.32 vs. 3.82 ± 2.43 (p < 0.001) for newborns from Prague and Ceske Budejovice, respectively. Other factors, including vitamin intake, exposure to tobacco smoke, body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, the education level of the mothers and the impact of the mothers’ and fathers’ ages were analyzed in our study. The results suggest that the different sensitivity of the study groups to various mixtures of carcinogenic pollutants could be affected by significant differences in lifestyle factors. Possible higher genetic damage was analyzed in newborns of smoking mothers, and the birth weight of this group was 7.4% lower (p < 0.05) in comparison with the newborns of nonsmoking mothers. No impact of the age of the mothers or fathers on MN frequency in the newborns was observed.

► We studied 178 mothers and their newborns from two locations in the Czech Republic.
► The locations differed in levels of benzo(a)pyrene, particulate matter PM2.5 and benzene.
► We investigated the frequency of micronuclei by the automated image analysis and by the impact of lifestyle factors.
► We found differences in micronuclei levels between groups and locations.
► Significantly higher frequency of MN and lower birth weight were found in newborns exposed to tobacco smoke.