FM22 (Frozen Mitochondria bioassay) as potential tool for inhalation exposure toxicity measures.

A wide variety of fire combustion substances can be produced during a fire, comprising of gases, organic vapours and particulate matter. From them, a wide kind of toxicological outputs may derive and the following toxicity during a fire event is characterized by a large number of additive, synergistic and antagonistic toxicological interactions into organisms. So, close to a chemical analysis of a burned compound it should be better support the knowledge with a bioassay approach. Aim of this work was to monitor whether FM22 bioassay may be a good test in order to find a reliable way of evaluating possible combined effects from burned anthropogenic substances. Then, 1,2-dichloroethane, acrylonitrile, EVC pitch, tetraline, toluene, Montefibre mix have been tested and mitochondrial respiration inhibition was performed as bioassay end point. LC50 has been determined and matched with TEEL (Temporary Emergency Exposure Limit) values applied on GC-MS chromatogram analysis results of combusted substances. A very interesting phenomena, i.e. hormetic response, has been also registered with FM22 bioassay application.