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The effect of beryllium compound solubility on in vitro canine alveolar macrophage cytotoxicity
G L Finch1, R J Verburg, J A Mewhinney
1Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5890.
Abstract:
Pulmonary alveolar macrophage cells (PAM), obtained by bronchopulmonary lavage of Beagle dogs, were exposed in vitro to beryllium oxide (BeO) particles calcined at either 500 or 1000 degrees C or to beryllium sulfate (BeSO4). Cell viability was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion after 20 h in culture. The most toxic material tested was BeSO4, followed by BeO calcined at 500 degrees C, then BeO calcined at 1000 degrees C. An in vitro dissolution technique was used to measure the relative solubility of the BeO particles. The BeO prepared at 500 degrees C exhibited greater solubility compared with BeO prepared at 1000 degrees C. This study extends previous work by examining the effects of beryllium compounds on canine PAM, and by relating PAM cytotoxicity with measured values of beryllium compound solubility.