Local Inflammatory Response Produced by Solutions Sterilized with Asbestos Type Filters. ∗

Summary

1. This paper demonstrates that filtering through an asbestos type filter disc will change the local cellular responses of the organism to that solution. This reaction is due to particles and fibers which have pulled off the disc and are present in the filtrate at the time of injection. 2. An attempt was made to characterize this reaction and resolve the factors involved in its production. The reaction was manifested by a tremendous increase in number and percent of eosinophils at the injection site. The particles producing this reaction were found to be insoluble in water and not destroyed by ashing. Identical reactions were obtained when asbestos fibers from 3 different sources were substituted for the filter fibers. Thus the local eosinophilia was due to the presence of asbestos fibers in the injected filtrate. Further studies indicated that the eosinophilia was not merely the reaction to a non-specific irritating substance. Talc produced a response identical to the asbestos, glass fibers and mica produced only a slight response and other substances such as silica, cotton and paper fibers did not produce an eosinophilia. Further studies are being made in order to determine the specific chemical producing the eosinophilia, 3. Asbestos fibers must stand with talc as potentially harmful irritants when introduced within a patient or animal. Immunologists and allergists as well as other biologists and physicians using asbestos type filters should take precautions to avoid introducing asbestos fibers along with their injections. It was further noted that a study of the local cellular responses to intraperitoneal injections, can lead to a better understanding of the effects of a. solution upon the organism.