In vitro cytotoxicity of textile paint components linked to the "Ardystil syndrome"

The spraying of a paint formula (Acramin F system) had led to severe pulmon ary disease in textile printing sprayers in Spain and Algeria (Ardystil syn drome). In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the toxicity of this paint and its main polymeric components, Acramin FWR, Acramin FWN, Acr afix FHN, and Acramoll W, we have undertaken studies using a battery of dif ferent cell-types and assessing in vitro cytotoxicity by measuring LDH leak age, This study shows that, as in in vivo studies, the three polycationic p aint components, Acramin FWR (a polyurea), Acramin FWN (a polyamide-amine), and Acrafix FHN (a polyamine) exhibited considerable cytotoxicity (LC50 ge nerally below 100 mu g/ml for an incubation of 20-24 h) in vitro, while Acr amoll W, which is not a polycation, was almost non-toxic (in the concentrat ion range tested). The cytotoxicity was comparable in primary cultures of r at and human type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages as well as in the pulmonary cell line A549 and the hepatic cell line HepG2. In human erythro cytes, the toxicity was less pronounced. We speculate that the multiple pos itive charges play an important role in the toxic mechanism. It is conclude d that Acramin FWR and Acramin FWN have similar intrinsic toxicity and that these polymeric compounds, which have no irritant properties or systemic t oxicity when given orally, exert a high, unexpected, degree of cytotoxicity .