Beryllium sensitization progresses to chronic beryllium disease: a longitudinal study of disease risk

Details

• Personal Author:
  Balkissoon R ; Maier LA ; Mroz MM ; Newman, Lee S.
• Description:
  The blood beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test is used in medical surveillance to identify both beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease. Approximately 50% of individuals with beryllium sensitization have chronic beryllium disease at the time of their initial clinical evaluation; however, the rate of progression from beryllium sensitization to chronic beryllium disease is unknown. We monitored a cohort of beryllium-sensitized patients at 2-year intervals, using bronchoalveolar lavage and repeated transbronchial lung biopsies to determine progression to chronic beryllium disease as evidenced by granulomatous inflammation in lung tissue. Fifty-five individuals with beryllium sensitization were monitored with a range of 2 to 5 clinical evaluations. Disease developed in 17 sensitized individuals (31%) within an average follow-up period of 3.8 years (range, 1.0-9.5 years). Thirty-eight of the 55 (69%) remained beryllium sensitized without disease after an average follow-up time of 4.8 years (range, 1.7-11.6 years). Progressors were more likely to have worked as machinists. We found no difference in average age, sex, race or ethnicity, smoking status, or beryllium exposure time between those who progressed to chronic beryllium disease and those who remained sensitized without disease. We conclude that beryllium sensitization is an adverse health effect in beryllium-exposed workers and merits medical follow-up. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Beryllium Demography Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Berylliosis Berylliosis Beryllium Beryllium Disease Demographic Characteristics Humans Long Term Study Lymphocyte Proliferation Test Machine Shop Workers Machinists Medical Surveillance Statistical Analysis Surveillance Transbronchial Biopsy

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• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  54-60
• Volume:
  171
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047748
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2005 Jan; 171(1):54-60
• Contact Point Address:
  Lee S. Newman, M.D., M.A., National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Room G-010, Denver, CO 80206
• Email:
  newmanl@njc.org
• CAS Registry Number:
  Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Performing Organization:
  National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Denver Colorado 80206
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19950930
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• End Date:
  20000929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:76909c324bd8ecd2fe5c493332f34e6f35b2c40190c6717d0aaf17fd676cca9a5f8e0c8f6d13866d64df10e4ced9e0d54c7c857bd28070f31eea7070fc0961f9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202740/cdc_202740_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.96 KB ]