Simple in vitro test systems for determining the toxicity of environmental chemicals: microcultures of human lymphocytes and monoxenic ciliate cultures
Huber, H.C.; Huber, W.; Ritter, U.
Zentralblatt für Hygiene und Umweltmedizin 189(6): 511-526
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0934-8859 PMID: 1696484 Document Number: 364356
Two test methods were developed to assess (I) the cytotoxicity, (II) the environmental toxicity of chemicals. Test parameter for (I) is the growth inhibition of human T-lymphocytes stimulated by PHA (test period 6-7 days), for (II) the inhibition of cell multiplication of the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis grown monoxenically in a chemically defined medium which contained glucose and citrate as only carbon source (test period 13-14 days). The EC50 values (mol/l) of Pb, Cd, Hg, dichlorvos, atrazine and lindane were for (I): greater than or equal to 10(-2,5), 10(-5,4), 10(-5,6), 10(-5,0), 10(-4,75) and 10(-3,95) respectively, for (II): 10(-6,72), less than or equal to 10(-6,66), 10(-7,84), 10(-3,61), 10(-3,93) and 10(-4,75) respectively. The advantages of the described bioassays are simple handling and high sensitivity.