In Vitro Alveolar Macrophage Viability

Abstract

A simple, rapid method was developed for the determination of in vitro alveolar macrophage viability after exposure to gases. Air pollutants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen killed alveolar macrophages, as determined by the dye exclusion test. Ozone (O₃) was effective at very low concentrations. Other gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), methyl chloride (CH₃Cl), acrolein, acetaldehyde, acetone, isoprene, benzene, and hydrocyanic acid (HCN) had no effect on cell viability.