Seasonal variations in chemical composition and in vitro biological effects of fine PM from Milan

PM1 affected cell viability reduction and induced IL-8 release, and these events were interrelated (R2 = 0.95), and apparently connected with the same chemical compounds. PM2.5 fraction, which was enriched in Ca++ and Mg++ (from soil dust), and Al, Fe, Zn, Ba Mn, produced cell viability reduction and DNA damage (R2 = 0.73).