Clearance, translocation, and excretion of beryllium following acute inhalation of beryllium oxide by beagle dogs

Abstract

Beagle dogs inhaled radiolabeled beryllium oxide ( 7BeO) particles that were calcined at either 500 or 1000°C, resulting in either high (mean of 50 μg/kg body wt) or low (mean of 17 μg/kg body wt) initial lung burdens (ILBs) of both preparations of BeO. Levels of beryllium in whole body, tissue, and excreta were measured by external γ-ray counting. Dogs were euthanized in pairs at 8, 32, 64, and 180 days after exposure to determine beryllium distribution in tissues. Beryllium oxide calcined at 1000°C was retained more tenaciously in the lungs (62% of the ILB retained at 180 days after exposure) than BeO calcined at 500°C (14% of the ILB retained at 180 days after exposure). Most of the beryllium that was cleared from the lungs and not excreted was translocated to the tracheobronchial lymph nodes, skeleton, liver, and blood. More beryllium was translocated to the skeleton and liver at 180 days after inhalation of BeO prepared at 500°C than at 1000°C. The predominant mode of excretion at early times after exposure was through the feces, with urinary excretion assuming predominance at later times. These data are important for interpreting the toxic effects of beryllium in the exposed dogs. Furthermore, because little is known concerning the retention and clearance of inhaled beryllium in man, these results provide information that may be used to understand the disposition of beryllium in accidentally exposed humans.