The general objectives of the study:
 
1) Evaluate the distribution of indicators of early biological effect, such as DNA damage and the presence of micronuclei in buccal cells of 6-8 years old children in relation to:
a) concentrations of some airborne pollutants;
b) mutagenic activity of air, measured by in vitro tests;
c) socio-economic and demographic variables, exposure to pollutants and other factors related to lifestyle.
 
2) Creation a risk model that permits to evaluate a premature biological damage from exposure to air pollutants and other factors. This type of approach, which should be considered very experimental in this area, is in according to other global risk models already validated and used for years, such as the cardiovascular risk or the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary based on several factors, including exposure to air pollutants, as proposed
Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS).
 
3) Provide information to guide actions and policies aimed to protect the children health from damage of air pollutants.
 
The specific objectives to be considered were:
 
- Measure the concentration of some organic compounds (PAHs and nitroIPA) in the air of various Italian cities (Brescia, Lecce, Perugia, Pisa and Turin), which are significant difference in the annual average level of some air pollution parameters (PM 10, PM 2.5, NOx and others);
 
- Measure the genotoxicity of air on PM 0.5 with mutagenicity tests in vitro such as the Ames test on bacteria, the Comet assay and the micronuclei test in a line cell human lung alveolar epithelium cells (A594);
 
- Measure the toxicity of PM 0.5  in environmental air samples on lung cell lines (A594 cells);
 
- Study the relationship between concentration of measured and evaluated air pollutants by air mutagenicity tests used in research;
 
- Detect the presence of exposure to indoor and outdoor airborne pollutants and other aspects of the lifestyle of children, including body mass index, physical activity and nutrition, by the use of a questionnaire;
 
- Evaluate the genotoxic damage in children 6-8 years recruited in the same areas using markers of early biological effect in buccal cells, such as DNA damage and micronuclei presence;
 
- Analysis of carcinogenic risk by using a model that related environmental data with standard parameters (PM 10, PM 2.5, NOx and others) and IPA and nitroIPA detected the cities of the study;
 
- Compare the results the Risk Analysis model based on environmental data with markers of early biological effect in children.