Assessment of hair and bone accumulation of beryllium by mice exposed to contaminated dusts

Abstract

This study looks at the accumulation of Be in the hair and bones of mice to understand both the use of hair as a bioindicator of exposure to Be and accumulation in bones as a means to evaluate the translocation of Be. We exposed two groups of mice (C3H/HeJ) to 250 microg m(-3) of two different particles sizes of Be metal (fine and intermediate; Be-F and Be-I) during 3 weeks of nose-only inhalation exposure. A control group was exposed to HEPA-filtered air. Mice were sacrificed either 1 or 3 weeks after the end of exposure. Mice were shaved and the bones were extracted. For washed hair, the results of mice sacrificed one week after the end of exposure were 8.3 + or - 1.4 microg kg(-1) hair for the control group, 114 + or - 42 microg kg(-1 )hair for the Be-I group, and 159 + or - 65 microg kg(-1) hair for the Be-F group. Results for Be-F mice sacrificed 3 weeks after the end of exposure showed an average Be concentration in washed hair of 419 + or - 100 microg kg(-1), thus suggesting that excretion of Be in hair increases with time. Be concentration in bones was 6 + or - 3 microg kg(-1) dry bone tissues for the control group, compared with 24 + or - 7 microg kg(-1) for Be-I and 34 + or - 6 or 43 + or - 8 microg kg(-1) for Be-F in mice sacrificed 1 or 3 weeks after the end of exposure. These results demonstrate the potential of using hair and bone as bioindicators of Be exposure.

Hair analysis as a biomonitor for toxicology, disease and health status

“…[27][28][29] Similarly seasonal fluctuations are also apparent from longitudinal analysis, 30 as well as geographical movements. This also applies for non-essential elements such as inhaled particulate material (Be) 33 and exposure to Pb (with subtle correlations to blood concentrations). This also applies for non-essential elements such as inhaled particulate material (Be) 33 and exposure to Pb (with subtle correlations to blood concentrations).…”

Detection of beryllium in digested autopsy tissues by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a high matrix interface configuration

“…Therefore, it should not impact Rh signal at the level currently spiked. From the full-scan mode investigation, it is impossible to respect condition 2 without violating condition 1, which would have favored either 6 Li or 7 Li. However, in a multivariate investigation of internal standards for Be ion saline matrices (i.e., NaCl, 0-500 ppm), FinleyJones et al [21] demonstrated that both 7 Li and 103 Rh were suitable IS.…”

“…From the full-scan mode investigation, it is impossible to respect condition 2 without violating condition 1, which would have favored either 6 Li or 7 Li. However, in a multivariate investigation of internal standards for Be ion saline matrices (i.e., NaCl, 0-500 ppm), FinleyJones et al [21] demonstrated that both 7 Li and 103 Rh were suitable IS. Finally, from the IS candidates proposed, 103 Rh (e 0 07.46 eV) is also the element with the highest and closest ionization potential to beryllium (e 0 09.32 eV), thus further supporting its use.…”

“…From those spectral interferences, only 7 LiH 2 + and 27 Al 3+ would be originating from matrix constituents. Considering that experimentally 7 Li 1 H + / 7 Li + formation ratio was determined to be 5× 10 −5 , it is very unlikely that the double hydride would have a high enough concentration to generate enough signal at m/z09, especially considering that Li concentrations were determined in the femur composite to be around 4.9 μg L −1 . An investigation of 27 Al 3+ interferences at m/z0 9 was also performed.…”

“…As inhalation is a primary route of the occupational exposure to Be, assessment of its concentration through aerosol sampling and swipes is commonly performed to detect exposure to Be in the workplace [5,6]. Additionally, biological indicators, such as hair and/or urine could be used to confirm current exposure [7,8] but do not necessarily provide information regarding past ones. According to Publication 30 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection regarding the systemic metabolic model, 40% of the Be circulated in blood is deposited in mineral bone while 20% is uniformly distributed among all other organs and tissues in the body [9].…”