Magnetometric evaluation of toxicities of chemicals to the lungs and cells.

Because the lungs are exposed to airborne hazardous materials, alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a major role in defending against the exposure to various noxious chemical substances. In this study, we reviewed magnetometric investigations of the effects of various chemicals on the lungs and AMs. Magnetometry, using magnetite as an indicator, was used to evaluate the effects of certain chemicals on the lung and AMs. A rapid decrease of the remanent magnetic field after the cessation of external magnetization, a phenomenon called relaxation, was impaired when the lungs and macrophages were exposed to toxic substances. The delayed in vivo relaxation observed in the lungs exposed to magnetite and gallium arsenide was almost identical to the in vitro relaxation observed in the AMs exposed to the same materials. Delayed relaxation was observed in the AMs exposed to silica dust; various fibers, such as chrysotile and some man-made mineral fibers; and toxic arsenic and cadmium compounds. The extracellular release of lactate dehydrogenase activity was found in the AMs exposed to the chemicals. Relaxation is attributed to the cytoskeleton-driven rotation of phagosomes containing magnetite. While the exact mechanism of delayed relaxation due to exposure to harmful chemicals remains to be clarified, cell magnetometry appears to be useful for the safety screening of chemical substances.