V. Castranova et al., IN-VITRO EFFECTS OF LARGE AND SMALL GLASS-FIBERS ON RAT ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES, Journal of toxicology and environmental health, 49(4), 1996, pp. 357-369
The objective of this study was to explore the use oi alveolar macroph
age culture to evaluate the cytotoxicity of two glass fiber materials,
a building insulation fiberglass (a relatively long and thick fiber)
and a glass microfiber (a short and thin fiber). Alveolar macrophages
were obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats by bronchoalveolar lavage
and were cultured with varying fiber concentrations for up to 3 d. Fib
er toxicity was assessed by assaying cell viability membrane integrity
, and phagocyte function. The microfibers exhibited a concentration-de
pendent cytotoxicity shown by the loss of cell viability and function.
The building insulation fiberglass had little effect on cell viabilit
y and did not change macrophage function in this assay system. The res
ults of this study show that short and thin glass fibers are more toxi
c than long and thick fibers in vitro, supporting a role of fiber dime
nsion in toxicity.