title: Cytotoxicity and solubility evaluation of two types of whiskers by cell magnetometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated two types of whiskers, an antimony-containing tin-oxide-coated aluminum borate whisker (CABW) and an aluminum borate whisker (ABW), which are asbestos substitutes, in order to evaluate the safety of these fibers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cytotoxicity and solubility of CABW and ABW were evaluated by cell magnetometry, LDH assay and solubility test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ABW was found to be cytotoxic by cell magnetometry and slightly less soluble than CABW. In addition, it was found that the solubility of both fibers was intermediate between that of chrysotile and rock wool, as compared to our previous test results. Regarding the LDH assay, no significant difference was found among the fibers tested. These findings suggested that CABW, the surface of which is coated with antimony-containing tin oxide, had lower cytotoxicity and slightly higher solubility than ABW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was only a short-term cytotoxicity and solubility study. Therefore, further safety assessment should be carried out in long-term experiments to examine the half-life of these fibers and monitor the potential development of lung carcinoma or mesothelioma after intratracheal instillation of these fibers in rats.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. yuichiro@med.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors: Yuichiro
authors: Y
authors: Kudo
authors: Yoshiharu
authors: Y
authors: Aizawa
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000965:Antimony / Q000633:toxicity; D001881:Borates / Q000633:toxicity*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000633:toxicity; D057075:Enzyme Assays / Q000379:methods; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000473:pathology*; D060306:Magnetometry / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012995:Solubility; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D017971:Tin Compounds; D000965:Antimony; D000535:Aluminum; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C045358:stannic oxide