Assessing the contribution of dermal exposure to total beryllium exposure.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Day, Gregory A. ; Deubner, David C. ; Dufresne A ; Hoover MD ; Kent MS ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Schuler CR ; Stefaniak, Alexsandr B.
• Description:
  This work represents part of a comprehensive initiative to evaluate the contribution of skin exposure to total exposure in the workplace. Our conceptual model takes into account the multiple and dynamic pathways by which metal-containing particles may be inhaled, ingested, or enter the body through the skin following transfer from a source to workplace air; from the air to work surfaces, skin, and clothing; from surfaces back into air; and from air, surfaces, and clothing to areas of exposed skin and breathing zones. Observed health effects associated with exposure to beryllium compounds include both sensitization and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Efforts to prevent beryllium sensitization and CBD have historically focused on controlling inhalation exposures; however, skin exposure may also be a biologically plausible contributor to sensitization. Sensitization to other metals, such as nickel, is known to occur by the dermal route. Sensitization (measured by positive patch testing) has been demonstrated experimentally to occur in humans who were exposed via the skin to soluble beryllium salts. Sensitization has also been demonstrated experimentally to occur in laboratory animals exposed via the skin to soluble beryllium salts or to insoluble beryllium oxide particles. It is not known what route(s) of exposure induce sensitization in industrial work environments. A prior cross-sectional epidemiological study performed at a copper-beryllium alloy strip and wire finishing facility demonstrated levels of sensitization (7%) and CBD (4%) that were comparable to levels found at other primary beryllium production facilities associated with higher airborne exposure. A comprehensive personal exposure assessment also confirmed the low airborne beryllium concentrations at the facility (n=562 lapel samples; geometric mean [GM]=0.026 µg/m3; geometric standard deviation [GSD]=1.7). Improvements were made to engineering and administrative controls, including a dermal protection program that required the use of long sleeves and nitrile gloves in production areas. The current post-intervention study was designed to measure the levels of beryllium in general workplace air, on work surfaces, on cotton gloves worn by workers, and on the necks and faces of those same workers, and to evaluate their interrelationships.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Paint Preceptorship Safety Staff Development Surveys And Questionnaires Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Absorption-rates Beryllium-compounds Beryllium-disease Beryllium-poisoning Biomarkers Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Metabolites Metal-compounds Metal-dusts Metal-industry Metal-industry-workers Metal-poisoning Metal-workers Occupational-exposure Occupational-hazards Occupational-health Protective-clothing Protective-measures Skin-absorption Skin-disorders Skin-exposure Skin-irritants Skin-tests Statistical-analysis Workplace-monitoring Workplace-studies

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• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20027238
• Citation:
  Occupational and Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals, June 12-15, 2005, Stockholm, Sweden. Morgantown, WV: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2005 Jun; :1-3
• CAS Registry Number:
  Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals, June 12-15, 2005, Stockholm, Sweden
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:aa66d813ccbd431547de78dd6e0abd7f307752852f119e8a125ad4b394e476a5ed593ee6e3a3565f10e9d4157320df658ac010c1c4a7abc075d243a221326900
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181307/cdc_181307_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 621.83 KB ]