Sensitization and chronic beryllium disease among workers in copper-beryllium distribution centers.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Little is known about the risk of sensitization and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) among workers performing limited processing of copper-beryllium alloys downstream of the primary beryllium industry. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional survey of employees at three copper-beryllium alloy distribution centers.

METHODS:

One hundred workers were invited to be tested for beryllium sensitization using the beryllium blood lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT); a sensitized worker was further evaluated for CBD. Available beryllium mass concentration air sampling data were obtained for characterization of airborne exposure.

RESULTS:

One participant, who had exposure to other forms of beryllium, was found to be sensitized and to have CBD, resulting in a prevalence of sensitization/CBD of 1% for all tested.

CONCLUSIONS:

The overall prevalence of beryllium sensitization and CBD for workers in these three copper-beryllium alloy distribution centers is lower than for workers in primary beryllium production facilities.

• Authors: Marcia L Stanton, Paul K Henneberger, Michael S Kent, David C Deubner, Kathleen Kreiss, Christine R Schuler
• Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine (J Occup Environ Med) Vol. 48 Issue 2 Pg. 204-11 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 1076-2752 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16474270 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants, Occupational
• Alloys
• Copper
• Beryllium

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Air Pollutants, Occupational (adverse effects, analysis)
• Alloys
• Berylliosis (epidemiology, pathology)
• Beryllium (adverse effects, analysis)
• Chronic Disease
• Copper
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupations
• Prevalence
• Respiratory Hypersensitivity (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• United States (epidemiology)