Abstract
In order to determine the toxicity of plastics in madical use, the effect of their extracts on cells were examind.
The addition of water and saline extracts to cell cultures had no effect on the growth of L-929 cells. However, the growth was inhibited by adding ethanol and serum extracts of ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, non-plasticized and plasticized polyvinyl chloride to the culture. The degree of inhibition depended on the dose of the extracts. Morphological changes in the cells were also observed when these extracts were added to the culture.
Water and saline have been principally used as the eluants of plastics for safety evaluation. The results indicate the necessity of safety evaluation using fat-soluble extracts as well, in regard to medical devices which must contact the blood.
