[The effect produced by fine-dust extracts on cells in vitro, with particular regard to cancerogenic components...

Airborne dust is toxic for cells cultured in vitro and able to transform these cells to cancerous. The effect of extracts from atmospheric dust has been investigated. The dust samples were extracted by means of DMSO alone or in combination acetone-DMSO. Dosage of the extract was done according to its benzo(a)pyrene content (mug/ml medium). Dust extract with a concentration of 1 mug benzo(a)pyrene/ml exerted a toxic effect upon mouse macrophages (cell line IC-21) and human lymphocytes after stimulation. The degree of toxicity was estimated from the percentage of damaged cells seen in the dye exclusion test and from the amount of lactate dehydrogenase and lactate released into the medium in the case of macrophages. In the case of lymphocytes the degree of toxicity was estimated from the extent of inhibition of DNA synthesis. In the carcinogenicity test, hamster kidney cells were first treated with the extract and then incubated with Simian Virus (SV-)40. Treatment of the cell cultures with extract from airborne dust in a concentration of 0.01 and 0.1 mug benzo(a)pyrene/ml clearly enhances the rate of transformation caused by SV 40.