The toxicity, in vitro, of silicon carbide whiskers.
To mouse cells in culture, SiC whiskers (SiCW) and asbestos are similarly cytotoxic, disrupting cell membranes and killing cells. Both shorten cell generation time, increase the rate of DNA synthesis, increase total cell DNA content, and cause a loss in growth control often associated with malignant cellular transformation. Within the narrow size range of materials examined, the amount of damage appeared to be more a function of the number of whiskers present than of their size. Silicon carbide whiskers, if mishandled, may pose a serious health hazard to humans.
Zoology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37916.
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D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D014343:Trypan Blue
D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D002244:Carbon; D004247:DNA; D014343:Trypan Blue; C022088:silicon carbide; D012825:Silicon