In vitro assessment of environmental toxicology using alveolar cells as target.

Biphasic culture of alveolar cells (alveolar macrophages and type II cells) has been widely developed and permits a precise evaluation of the toxic effects of air pollutants. Clearly, in vitro exposure of alveolar cells to high concentrations of oxidant gases is responsible for a loss of cell viability. In contrast, when exposed to realistic concentrations of gases (NO2, O3), cell viability is not altered and various proinflammatory mediators are released. This in vitro model has proved to be sensitive at levels of gas exposure of ambient air quality standards and appears a sensitive biological indicator of air pollutant cell toxicity.