[Lead and cadmium toxicity in established mammalian cell lines].

Lead and cadmium toxicity was evaluated in three mammalian cell lines (tumour : HeLa, transformed : XC and normal : NRK) by means of the modifications of the 3H-TdR incorporation rate in the nucleus of the treated cells. The three cell lines showed different degrees of sensitivity. Sensitivity depended on the line, metal, its concentration and duration of incubation. Cadmium was found to be at least five times more toxic than lead except at low concentration. The normal cell line was more sensitive to cadmium and less sensitive to lead than other lines.