Release of beryllium from mineral ores in artificial lung and skin surface fluids

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chipera SJ ; Duling, Matthew G. ; Lawrence, Robert B. ; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B. ; Virji, M. Abbas
• Description:
  Exposure to some manufactured beryllium compounds via skin contact or inhalation can cause sensitization. A portion of sensitized persons who inhale beryllium may develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Little is understood about exposures to naturally occurring beryllium minerals. The purpose of this study was to assess the bioaccessibility of beryllium from bertrandite ore. Dissolution of bertrandite from two mine pits (Monitor and Blue Chalk) was evaluated for both the dermal and inhalation exposure pathways by determining bioaccessibility in artificial sweat (pH 5.3 and pH 6.5), airway lining fluid (SUF, pH 7.3), and alveolar macrophage phagolysosomal fluid (PSF, pH 4.5). Significantly more beryllium was released from Monitor pit ore than Blue Chalk pit ore in artificial sweat buffered to pH 5.3 (0.88 +/- 0.01% vs. 0.36 +/- 0.00%) and pH 6.5 (0.09 +/- 0.00% vs. 0.03 +/- 0.01%). Rates of beryllium released from the ores in artificial sweat were faster than previously measured for manufactured forms of beryllium (e.g., beryllium oxide), known to induce sensitization in mice. In SUF, levels of beryllium were below the analytical limit of detection. In PSF, beryllium dissolution was biphasic (initial rapid diffusion followed by latter slower surface reactions). During the latter phase, dissolution half-times were 1,400 to 2,000 days, and rate constants were similar to 7 x 10(-10) g/(cm(2)center dot day), indicating that bertrandite is persistent in the lung. These data indicate that it is prudent to control skin and inhalation exposures to bertrandite dusts. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Beryllium Body Fluids Dust Environmental Monitoring Hypersensitivity Inhalation Exposure Laboratories Lung Minerals Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Skin Skin Absorption

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Beryllium Beryllium-compounds Beryllium-disease Bioaccessibility Biological-effects Body-fluids Chronic Beryllium Disease Diffusion-analysis Exposure Exposure-assessment Fluids Inhalants Laboratory-testing Lung-function Lung-irritants Mineral-dusts Oxides Phagocytic-activity Sensitization Skin-absorption Skin-exposure Skin-sensitivity

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• ISSN:
  0269-4042
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New Mexico ; Oklahoma ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 6 ; 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:
  313-322
• Volume:
  34
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040689
• Citation:
  Environ Geochem Health 2012 Jun; 34(3):313-322
• Contact Point Address:
  A.B. Stefaniak, NIOSH, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
• Email:
  AStefaniak@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Bertrandite (Be4(OH)2O(SiO3)2) (CAS RN 12161-82-9) ; Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Geochemistry and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:61ed0f5a3c794ad684c4ec30a42192b8a1c4bb5c632d5ae32d580565c46362d7803fb8d9721ded39269fce672c7804659e93c67ad32e6083ca9c22e24dcd2bc1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193475/cdc_193475_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 176.94 KB ]