Initial studies of the inhalation toxicity of beryllium sulfate and beryllium metal fume

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1947

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/186231· OSTI ID:186231

Sprague, G. F.; LaBelle, W.; Pettengill, A. G. ^[1]

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1. and others

Data from 56 animals were collected to supply information relevant to the poisonous effects, including the organs injured and the route of the damage, caused by the inhalation of beryllium sulfate tetrahydrate dust at a concentration approximating 90 mg of the salt per cubic meter of air. Six criteria of toxicity were utilized in evaluating the information obtained from the animals which comprised 2 dogs, 3 rabbits, 10 rats, 14 guinea pigs, 20 mice and 7 hamsters. The animals were exposed 6 hours daily for a two-week period, a total of 66 hours, to a dust of this soluble beryllium salt in a small inhalation exposure chamber. Mortality for all species dying as a result of exposure was 43% of the 56 exposed animals or 20 of 20 mice, 2 of 10 rats, and 2 of 7 hamsters. The mice died from the 3rd to the 11th calendar day with an LD{sub 50} being attained on the 7th day following the start of exposure. No deaths occurred among the dogs, rabbits, or guinea pigs. Weight response data showed that all species save the guinea pig were adversely affected. The rabbit lost 5% in weight, whereas the rat and hamster lost 11%. Clinical chemical values indicated renal impairment and some subsequent regeneration in the rabbits. Marked species variation, but unusually good conformity within each species, was thus observed in the response to the inhalation of beryllium sulfate. Rats were exposed by inhalation to beryllium metal fume at an approximate concentration of 800 mg/m{sup 3} of air under a variety of exposure schedules to determine the character of the toxic response. It was concluded that beryllium metal fume acts as a primary irritant which, when administered rapidly in high dosage, may be fatal but which is tolerated relatively well as long as no single dose exceeds 12,000 CT units. No cumulative poisonous effects were seen. 14 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Rochester Univ., NY (United States). Atomic Energy Project
• OSTI ID: 186231
• Report Number(s): M--1997; ON: DE95013624
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ACUTE EXPOSURE
AEROSOLS
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BERYLLIUM
BERYLLIUM SULFATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DOGS
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
GROWTH
GUINEA PIGS
HAMSTERS
INHALATION
LABORATORY ANIMALS
LETHAL DOSES
MICE
MORTALITY
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RABBITS
RATS
TOXICITY