Rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages in-vitro cytotoxicity to six metal dusts. Technical report, May-August 1985

Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) were harvested from rats by bronchopulmonary lavage and exposed in vitro to aqueous suspensions of six metal dusts: aluminum, silicated aluminum, carbon, graphite, titanium dioxide, and silica. The LC50 value for each dust was calculated by logarithmic linear regression analysis of the toxicity data from the experimental exposure concentrations. Cytotoxicity was determined by metal concentration-dependent inability of PAMs to exclude the trypan blue dye from their cytroplasm. After exposure, PAMs usually bore numerous bound metal particles; but phagocytosis was rare, probably because the cells were not activated in situ prior to removal from the lungs.