Formaldehyde-induced cytotoxicity and sister-chromatid exchanges in human lymphocyte cultures
Kreiger, R.A.; Garry, V.F.
Mutation Research 120(1): 51-55
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-5107 PMID: 6835262 Document Number: 221112
The pervasive use of formaldehyde in domestic products and industrial processes has generated considerable interest in the toxicology of this compound. Numerous investigators have demonstrated formaldehyde-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis using animal model methodologies. However, the potential formaldehyde exposure risk for humans remains obscure. Epidemiologic studies of persons exposed to formaldehyde have produced equivocal results, and the use of human cells for in vitro experiments with formaldehyde has not been sufficiently utilized as an investigative technique. The experimental series described here represent a broad scope, rudimentary approach to measuring some of the toxic effects produced by formaldehyde in human lymphocyte cultures. Viable cell counts, sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) induction and mitotic-index measurements were used as indicators of formaldehyde induced toxic effects of produced in vitro. Although SCE induction in human lymphocyte cultures has been reported, 3 toxicity indices were measured concomitantly over a wide formaldehyde dose range. Alteration of some basic experimental parameters such as formaldehyde source and blood donors provided an indication of the importance of these factors on the measured toxicity indices.