Eytotoxicity of volatile organic compounds on Chinese hamster lung cells

  Objective   To evaluate the cytotoxicity of volatile organic compounds i.e.formaldehyde and benzene on Chinese hamster lung(CHL)cells in vitro.

  Methods   CHL cells were exposed to formaldehyde and benzene at different concetration respectively and simultaneously.Cell growth was tested by methylthiazoletrazolium(MTT)assay and absorbency was determined to calculated the cell relative growth rate.

  Results   According to MTT assay,the IC₅₀(48 h)of benzene for inhibiting CHL cell proliferation was 48.35μg/ml and the IC₅₀ (48 h)of formaldehyde was 75.10μg/ml.The results showed that a synergistic effect existed between the two chemicals.

  Conclusion   Formaldehyde and benzene have a direct cytotoxicity on CHL cells.The toxicity exposed to formaldehyde and benzene simultaneously is greater than that of exposed to formaldehyde and benzene respectively.