Air Samples from a Building with Asbestos-Containing Material: Asbestos Content and in Vitro Toxicity on Rat Pleural Mesothelial Cells

Abstract

Air Samples from a Building with Asbestos-Containing Material: Asbestos Content and in Vitro Toxicity on Rat Pleural Mesothelial Cells. Dong, H., Saint-Etienne, L., Renier, A., Billon Galland, M. A., Brochard, P., and Jaurand, M. C. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 22, 178-185.Buildings equipped with asbestos-containing material may release asbestos fibers, the toxicity of which remains uncertain because of the generally low dose level. In 22 air samples collected in a building the asbestos level ranged between 0 and 0.027 f/ml. Both chrysotile and amphiboles were found. There was no association between in vitro cytotoxicity on rat pleural mesothelial cells and asbestos content, but there was a significant correlation with the total amount of particulate material. Four samples exhibited an enhancement of DNA synthesis in cells arrested in G1 with 5 mM hydroxyurea. This is more likely related to the particulate matter associated with asbestos fibers.