Further studies on the toxicity of the aflatoxins on human cell cultures.

The cytotoxicity of aflatoxins G and B to cultured human embryo liver cells and of aflatoxin B to cultured adult liver cells, to cells of a semicontinuous diploid liver cell line and to a diploid lung cell line have been determined. Aflatoxins B and G were found to be considerably less toxic to human embryo liver cells than aflatoxin B and the LD's were 35 and 10 μg./ml. respectively after 48 hr exposure to the toxin. Human adult liver cells in culture, cells of the liver cell line and lung cells were much less sensitive to the action of aflatoxin B than embryo liver cells. These results have been compared with those previously reported for B and G and the reasons for the variation in toxicity observed are discussed.