title: Presenting an in vitro cell culture model to determine the cytotoxic effect of benzoyl peroxide vapours.
abstract: Benzoyl peroxide (BP) is an initiator of polymerisation used in the synthesis of methyl methacrylate dental materials, and is a known allergen that causes allergic contact dermatitis during occupational exposure, especially in dentists and dental personnel. The eyes of dental technicians, dentists and even patients with an allergic history are the first level of exposure, and therefore complaints of allergic reactions of the eyes are usually noted. In this article the authors used a modification direct cell culture testing method to assess the cytotoxic potential of BP. L929 mouse fibroblasts as well as cells from human limbal eye rings were exposed to BP vapours in the experiments. The MTT and crystal violet assays were also employed to determine cell numbers and viability. Results indicated that there is an exponential decrease in cell viability. After exposure of five minutes, cell viability had already decreased by 20 and 40% for vapours derived from either a 10 or 20 microliters aliquot of BP, respectively. After a further five minutes, cell viability decreased by a further 10% with a statistical difference form the control of p < 0.01. Results indicated that BP vapours are cytotoxic to mouse L929 and human eye fibroblasts. Furthermore, the authors concluded that the permanent L929 mouse fibroblast cell line can provide valuable information regarding the cytotoxic effects of dental products and associated compounds that form toxic vapours.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide