A new method of estimating the cytotoxic effects of suspended particulate matter on cultured alveolar macrophages in vitro.
A new method has been devised for evaluating the cytotoxicity of suspended particulate matters in vitro. It uses the proliferative capacity of mouse alveolar macrophages, estimated by the uptake of (3)H-tymidine, as an index of cytotoxicity, and provides a simple and rapid means of evaluating the cytotoxicity of suspended particulate matter collected on a filter by a personal air sampler. A significant decrease in (3)H-thymidine uptake (an indication of impaired proliferation) could be detected in the range of approximately 0.31 to 1.03 mug of nickel sulfide particles per square centimeter of culture dish, suggesting the relatively great sensitivity of this method to particulate toxicants. A preliminary application of this method to suspended particulate matter collected in an urban atmosphere indicated that 3 hours of sampling, corresponding to that in about 0.72 cubic meters of air, were sufficient for evaluation of toxicity by this method.
Takahashi
Sentaro
S
Environmental and Toxicological Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
Kubota
Yoshihisa
Y
Okinaga
Kiyo
K
Furuya
Keiichi
K