[Fibre interaction with red blood cells or alveolar macrophages "in vitro" (author's transl)]

Haemolytic activities and effects on alveolar macrophages (AM) of various fibres were studied. UICC asbestos fibres and attapulgites either untreated or acid-leached were used. Amphiboles and commercial attapulgites were both cytotoxic on AM, but attapulgites and chrysotile were only haemolytic. Chrysotile fibres induced a release of B galactosidase; when acid treated these fibres were cytotoxic and less haemolytic. Acid treated amphiboles were more haemolytic than untreated.