A rapid whole blood culture (WBC) assay system was developed to monitor the
inflammatory potential of water samples collected in the Western Cape, Sou
th Africa. Water contaminated with inflammatory substances induced the pro-
inflammatory hormone interleukin 6 (IL-6). All water samples collected from
the Eerste River, Stellenbosch, induced IL-6 secretion, and the quantity o
f IL-6 secreted is dependent on the concentration and origin of the sample.
The lowest IL-6 inducing activity for river water was obtained for samples
collected near the origin of the river. Samples at subsequent points downs
tream showed an increase in IL-6- inducing activity. Drinking water samples
collected from selected towns in the Western Cape showed that there were m
ajor differences between the inflammatory potential of the water. Of the 15
samples assayed, 7 had low inflammatory activity, 4 had an intermediate in
flammatory activity and 4 had high inflammatory activity. The water sources
that have a high inflammatory activity may pose a health risk to consumers
.