EGCG reduces Cr(VI)-induced cytotoxicity. A, BEAS-2B cells were exposed to 10 μM Cr(VI) and increasing concentrations of EGCG (5–100 μM) for 24 h. MTT assay showed EGCG dose-dependently increased cell viability in Cr(VI)-treated cells. Values are Mean ± SD (n = 6). *P < 0.01 vs control, #P < 0.01 vs Cr10. B, BEAS-2B cells were treated with 2 μM or 4 μM Cr(VI) with or without 50 μM EGCG for 24h, reseeded and cultured in drug-free medium for an additional two weeks and stained with Giemsa. The colonies were counted and plotted as Mean ± SD (n = 3). *P < 0.01 vs control, #P < 0.01 vs Cr2, †P < 0.01 vs Cr4.