The acute toxicity of inhaled beryllium metal in rats

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Fundamental and Applied Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-0590(90)90193-N· OSTI ID:6991949

Haley, P J; Finch, G L; Hoover, M D; Cuddihy, R G ^[1]

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1. Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The authors exposed rats once by nose only for 50 min to a mean concentration of 800 [mu]g/m[sup 3] of beryllium metal to characterize the acute toxic effects within the lung. Histological changes within the lung and enzyme changes within bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were evaluated at 3, 7, 10, 14, 31, 59, 115, and 171 days postexposure (dpe). Beryllium metal-exposed rats developed acute, necrotizing, hemorrhagic, exudative pneumonitis and intraalveolar fibrosis that peaked at 14 dpe. By 31 dpe, inflammatory lesions were replaced by minimal interstitial and intraalveolar fibrosis. Necrotizing inflammation was observed again at 59 dpe which progressed to chronic-active inflammation by 115 dpe. Low numbers of diffusely distributed lymphocytes were also present but they were not associated with granulomas as is observed in beryllium-induced disease in man. Lymphocytes were not elevated in BAL samples collected from beryllium-exposed rats at any time after exposure. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), [beta]-glucuronidase, and protein levels were elevated in BAL fluid from 3 through 14 dpe but returned to near normal levels by 31 dpe. LDH increased once again at 59 dpe and remained elevated at 171 dpe. [beta]-Glucuronidase and protein levels were slightly, but not significantly, elevated from 31 through 171 dpe.

• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76EV01013
• OSTI ID: 6991949
• Journal Information: Fundamental and Applied Toxicology; (United States), Journal Name: Fundamental and Applied Toxicology; (United States) Vol. 15; ISSN 0272-0590; ISSN FAATDF
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BERYLLIUM
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
FIBROSIS
GLUCURONIDASE
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HEMIACETAL DEHYDROGENASES
HYDROLASES
INHALATION
INTAKE
LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE
LAVAGE
LEUKOCYTES
LUNGS
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PNEUMONITIS
PROTEINS
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES