Human alveolar macrophages (AM) were demonstrated to generate reactive toxic derivatives of oxygen in many pulmonary disorders. These cells are involved in local inflammation which characterizes bronchial asthma. In the present work, we studied the ability of stimulated macrophages from healthy volunteers, and asthmatic patients to generate oxygen species in vitro. AM obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage were purified by adherence. The production of oxygen species was measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) after challenge with opsonized zymosan. The maximal values were significantly (p less than 0.03 and p less than 0.01) higher in AM from asthmatics than in AM from healthy subjects. A significant correlation (p less than 0.01) was observed between maximal value of CL and the severity of asthma as assessed by the clinical score. But, no difference was observed between AM from asthmatics in a stable state and healthy subjects. On the other hand, assays for superoxide anion generation emphasized the activation state of these macrophages stimulated by formyl-peptides.