A Comparison of In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assays and Their Application to Water Samples

Abstract

A group of 13 compounds were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity in four test systems; MIT-24 test, inhibition of cell growth (protein method), inhibition of cell growth (vital dye method) and cloning efficiency. In general, all four assays tended to rank compounds in a similar order for toxicity. The length of the exposure period appeared to be important for some compounds. The cytotoxicity of a variety of water samples was examined in two tests; inhibition of cell growth (vital dye method) and cloning efficiency. Under the conditions in which the assays were carried out, the latter proved to be the more sensitive test. River water samples gave little or no indication of cytotoxicity, samples of domestic sewage effluent gave some evidence of cytotoxicity, while an industrial effluent was markedly cytotoxic.