Cytotoxicity study of rock wool by cell magnetometric evaluation.

The cytotoxicity of rock wool (RW), an asbestos substitute, was evaluated by cell magnetometry. Alveolar macrophages were isolated from male Fisher rats. Following addition of triiron tetraoxide (Fe(3)O(4)) to macrophages, RW was added. Then, the remnant magnetic field strength was measured for 20min after magnetization by an external field. Relaxation, an indicator of decay of cytotoxicity, was observed by cell magnetometry immediately postmagnetization in the group to which RW was added. In general, materials phagocytosed by macrophages are ingested into phagosomes and digested while migrating. This migration of phagosomes occurs by polymerization and depolymerization of the cytoskeleton. As a result of evaluation, relaxation was not delayed by addition of RW, since RW caused no effect on the cytoskeleton. It was suggested that RW has no cytotoxicity as evaluated by cell magnetometry.