All manufacturing processings produce aerosols from the workpieces. These particles are inhaled and can be seen as potentially damaging agents for the respiratory tract. A hygienic aerosol evaluation of modern workpieces and new processing technologies (laser processing) is now undispensible.
Toxic dusts induce pathological reactions in alveolar macrophages. Four bioassays were chosen to investigate the damaging dust potency to these cells. The cells were sampled in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from guinea pigs. The H202 release was determined as a measure of the cell damage by the dust. The TNF determination was performed to measure the fibrogenic potency. The glucuronidase test determines the cellular integrity by measuring the lysosomal enzymes. In comparison with the control this is a measure for the potential toxicity of the dusts. Finally the measurement of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) release is understood as a direct tumorgenicity test. The results of all tests are presented.