Occupational exposure beryllium

Borak J. The beryllium occupational exposure limit historical origin and current inadequacy. J Occup Environ Med 2006 48(2) 109-116. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, US Department of Health, Education and Welfare Criteria for a Recommended Standard... Occupational Exposure to Beryllium, (NIOSH) Pub No 72-10268. 

Occupational and environmental poisoning with metals, metalloids, and metal compounds is a major health problem. Exposure in the workplace is found in many industries, and exposure in the home and elsewhere in the nonoccupational environment is widespread. The classic metal poisons (arsenic, lead, and mercury) continue to be widely used. (Treatment of their toxicities is discussed in Chapter 57.) Occupational exposure and poisoning due to beryllium, cadmium, manganese, and uranium are relatively new occupational problems, which present new and previously unaddressed problems. 

Occupational exposure to beryllium, a hapten, by inhalation of fumes/dust and/or by skin contact may result in one of two conditions that primarily affect the lungs. In acute berylliosis, which may occur following a high concentration exposure, the metal acts as a direct chemical irritant, causing a nonspecific inflammatory reaction (acute chemical pneumonitis). However, a small percentage of those exposed develop beryllium-specific T-cell-mediated hypersensitivity (Type IV) with proliferation and accu-... 

The objective of this chapter is to put into perspective some of the current knowledge with respect to trace metals and their health implications. Potential adverse health effects of occupational exposures to trace metals are dis cussed cancer (arsenic, beryllium chromium nickel, and perhaps cadmium) chronic lung disease (beryllium and cadmium) neurologic and reproductive disorders (lead and mercury) and kidney disorders (lead and cadmium). Also discussed are the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended standards for occupational exposure to several trace metals, the difficulty of establishing safe levels of exposure (particularly for carcinogens), and problems involved in identifying toxic components of trade name products. Special attention is given to the role of chemists to help protect the public health. 

The primary routes of potential human exposure to coke oven emissions are inhalation and dermal contact. Occupational exposure to coke oven emissions may occur for those workers in the aluminum, steel, graphite, electrical, and construction industries. Coke oven emissions can have a deleterious effect on human health. Coke oven emissions contain literally several thousand compounds, several of which are known carcinogens and/or cocarcinogens including polycyclic organic matter from coal tar pitch volatiles, jS-naphthylamine, benzene, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromate, lead, nickel subsulfide, nitric oxide, and sulfur dioxide. Most regulatory attention has been paid to coal tar pitch volatiles. 

A rapid development of certain specialized industries such as the production of computers, beryllium ceramics, nuclear power engineering, rocket techniques and other complex technologies give rise to the possibility of occupational exposure to beryllium effects. In the vicinity of works producing beryllium, its alloys or salts, and also in coal combustion (where as much as 100 g of beryllium may be present in one ton of certain types of coal), the atmosphere is polluted with this toxic element, which thus leads to the exposure of the population in these localities. The maximal permissible beryllium concentration is as low as 0.002 mg m. ... 

EXPOSURE ROUTES occupational exposure, including where it is mines, processes, and converted into alloys and chemicals inhalation of beryllium dust inhalation of fumes from the burning of coal or fuel oil tobacco smoke ingestion of fruits and vegetables and water fly ash through chimney stacks electronic devices... 

Chronic fibrotic occupational lung diseases include asbestosis (see p 121), silicosis, coal workers pneumoconiosis, and a few other less common fibrotic lung diseases associated with occupational exposures to such substances as beryllium and hard metal (cobalt-tungsten carbide). These conditions occur after years of exposure and with long latency, although patients may present for evaluation after an acute exposure. Referral for follow-up surveillance is appropriate if exposure is anticipated to be long term. 

Although a number of epidemiological studies have reported an increased risk of lung cancer among occupationally exposed beryllium workers, deficiencies in the studies limit any unequivocal conclusion. Specific criticisms concern the lack of consideration of latent effects, of smoking history, and of exposure to other potential carcinogens and the underestimation of expected lung cancer deaths in comparison populations. "... 

Kolanz ME, Madl AK, Kelsh MA, Kent MS, Kalmes RM, Paustenbach DJ. A comparison and critique of historical and current exposure assessment method for beryllium Implications for evaluating risk of chronic beryllium disease. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2001 6 593-614. 

Madl, A. K., Unice, K. M., Brown, J. L., Kolanz, M. E., and Kent, M. S. (2007). Exposure-response analysis for beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease among worka-s in a beryllium metal machining plant. J Occup Environ Hyg 4(6), 448-466. 

OSHA considers skin diseases as illnesses caused by exposure to chemicals, plants, or other hazardous substances. OSHA dehnes respiratory conditions or illnesses as breathing-related problems associated with pneumonitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, farmer s lung, beryllium disease, tuberculosis, occupational asthma, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypersensitivity. Examples can include heatstroke, hypothermia, decompression sickness, effects of ionizing radiation, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, anthrax, and bloodbome pathogen diseases. 

Kelleher PC, Martyny JW, Mroz MM, et al. BerylUum particulate exposure and disease relations in a beryllium machining plant. J Occup Environ Med 2001 43(3) 238-249. 

Deubner DC, Lowney YW, Paustenbach DJ, et al. Contribution of incidental exposure pathways to total beryllium exposures. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2001 16(5) 568-578. 

Browne K (1994) Asbestos-related disorders. In Parkes WR (ed) Occupational lung disorders, 3rd edn. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, pp 411-504 British Thoracic and Tuberculosis Association and the Medical Research Council Pneumoconiosis Unit (1972) A survey of pleural thickening its relation to asbestos exposure and previous pleural disease. Environ Res 5 142-151 Butnor KJ, Sporn TA, Ingram P, Gunasegaram S, Pinto JF, Roggli VL (2003) Beryllium detection in human lung tissue using electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Modern Pathol 16 1171-1177... 

Beryllium exposure occurs in a wide variety of occupations. It may cause acute berylliosis (currently very rare), beryllium sensitization, chronic beryllium disease, or lung cancer. Imaging manifestations of chronic beryllium disease are generally similar to those of sarcoidosis, with nodules, ground glass abnormality, septal thickening, conglomerate masses, and mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy. 

Seiler DH, Rice C, Herrick RF, Hertzberg VS. A study of beryllium exposure measurements, part 1 estimation and categorization of average exposures from daily weighted average data in the beryllium industry. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1996 11 89-97. 

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