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Daniel E. Arrieta,¹ Cynthia C. Ontiveros,¹ Wen-Whai Li,² Jose H. Garcia,² Michael S. Denison,³ Jacob D. McDonald,⁴ Scott W. Burchiel,⁵ and Barbara Shayne Washburn¹

¹Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, and ²Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA; ³Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; ⁴Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; ⁵University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy Toxicology Program, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Abstract
In this study, we determined the biologic activity of dichloromethane-extracted particulate matter < 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) obtained from filters at three sites in the Paso del Norte airshed, which includes El Paso, Texas, USA ; Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, and Sunland Park, New Mexico, USA. The extracts were rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and had significant biologic activity, measured using two in vitro assay systems: ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) induction and the aryl hydrocarbon-receptor luciferase reporter system. In most cases, both EROD (5.25 pmol/min/mg protein) and luciferase activities (994 relative light units/mg) were highest in extracts from the Advance site located in an industrial neighborhood in Juarez. These values represented 58% and 55%, respectively, of induction associated with 1 µM ß-naphthoflavone exposures. In contrast, little activity was observed at the Northeast Clinic site in El Paso, the reference site. In most cases, luciferase and EROD activity from extracts collected from the Tillman Health Center site, situated in downtown El Paso, fell between those observed at the other two sites. Overall, a statistically significant correlation existed between PM₁₀ and EROD and luciferase activities. Chemical analysis of extracts collected from the Advance site demonstrated that concentrations of most PAHs were higher than those reported in most other metropolitan areas in the United States. Calculations made with these data suggest a cancer risk of 5-12 cases per 100,000 people. This risk estimate, as well as comparisons with the work of other investigators, raises concern regarding the potential for adverse health effects to the residents of this airshed. Further work is needed to understand the sources, exposure, and effects of PM₁₀ and particulate organic material in the Paso del Norte airshed. Key words: air pollution, biomarkers, El Paso, particulate matter, PM, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) , U.S.-Mexico border. Environ Health Perspect 111:1299-1305 (2003) . doi:10.1289/ehp.6058 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 7 May 2003]