CYTOTOXICITY AND ACUTE TOXICITY OF HEPA FILTER

Abstract

Although High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are effective in reducing the transmission of airborne diseases, their potential adverse effects on human health have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic effects of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts derived from HEPA filters in vitro, as well as their acute toxicity in vivo. Cytotoxicity tests were conducted using a range of concentrations on 10 distinct human cell lines, including both normal and cancerous cells. Additionally, ICR mice were administered a single oral dose of EtOAc extracts at 0, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight and monitored for 14 days to detect any signs of acute toxicity. No mortality or significant toxic effects were observed in terms of clinical symptoms, body weight, or organ weights. The in vivo acute toxicity results revealed that the minimal lethal dose of the EtOAc extracts exceeded 2000 mg/kg for both male and female mice. Furthermore, the extracts showed no cytotoxic effects on any of the tested cell lines. The findings suggest that the EtOAc extracts from HEPA filters do not exhibit cytotoxic or acute toxic properties.