The toxicology of gallium oxide in comparison with gallium arsenide and indium oxide. 2020

Ernst M Bomhard
REACh ChemConsult GmbH, Strehlener Str. 14, D-01069 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: bomhard@reach-chemconsult.com.

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium oxide (In2O3) are used in electronic industries at high and increasing tonnages since decades. Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is an emerging wide-bandgap transparent conductive oxide with as yet little industrial use. Since GaAs has received critical attention due to the arsenic ion, it seemed reasonable to compare its toxicology with the respective endpoints of Ga2O3 and In2O3 toxicology in order to find out if and to what extent arsenic contributes. In addition, the toxicology of Ga2O3 has not yet been adequately reviewed, Therefore, this review provides the first evaluation of all available toxicity data on Ga2O3. The acute toxicity of all three compounds is rather low. Subchronic inhalation studies in rats and mice revealed persistent pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) and/or alveolar histiocytic infiltrates down to the lowest tested concentration in rats and mice, i.e. 0.16 mg Ga2O3/m3. These are also the predominant effects after GaAs and In2O3 exposure at similarly low levels, i.e. 0.1 mg/m3 each. Subchronic Ga2O3 exposure caused a minimal microcytic anemia with erythrocytosis in rats (at 6.4 mg/m3 and greater) and mice (at 32 and 64 mg/m3), a decrease in epididymal sperm motility and concentration as well as testicular degeneration at 64 mg/m3. At comparable concentrations the hematological effects and male fertility of GaAs were much stronger. The stronger effects of GaAs are due to its better solubility and presumed higher bioavailability. The database for In2O3 is too small and subchronic testing was at very low levels to allow conclusive judgements if blood/blood forming or degrading and male fertility organs/tissues would also be targets.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007204 Indium A metallic element, atomic number 49, atomic weight 114.818, symbol In. It is named from its blue line in the spectrum.
D008297 Male Males
D009928 Organ Specificity Characteristic restricted to a particular organ of the body, such as a cell type, metabolic response or expression of a particular protein or antigen. Tissue Specificity,Organ Specificities,Specificities, Organ,Specificities, Tissue,Specificity, Organ,Specificity, Tissue,Tissue Specificities
D005260 Female Females
D005708 Gallium A rare, metallic element designated by the symbol, Ga, atomic number 31, and atomic weight 69.72.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001152 Arsenicals Inorganic or organic compounds that contain arsenic. Arsenic Compounds,Compounds, Arsenic
D012737 Sex Factors Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances. Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D013045 Species Specificity The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species. Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

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