Beryllium health effects, exposure limits and regulatory requirements

Abstract

Beryllium is the lightest chemically stable metallic element. Research and development in the 1930s led to its use in industrial applications beginning in the 1940s. Subsequently, reports of lung and skin disease surfaced leading to epidemiologic and toxicology studies of beryllium's health effects. These studies have identified a range of health effects with solubility of the chemical form of beryllium as a key determinant whether the effects are acute (short term) or chronic (long term).The development of lymphocyte proliferation testing (BeLPT) for beryllium sensitization (BeS) in the 1980s and its use in medical screening has led to increasing awareness that occupational chronic beryllium disease (CBD) has not been controlled to the extent once thought. The enforceable long-standing occupational exposure limits intended to prevent CBD are now considered to be obsolete. However, proposed new limits have yet to be adopted. The basis for existing and proposed occupational and public exposure limits and regulatory requirements are discussed here. The current ACGIH and OSHA adopted occupational exposure limit for workers is 2.0 mg/m 3 , based as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA). An occupational exposure limit of 0.2 m/m 3 (8-Hr TWA) has been adopted by California as a regulatory limit and is being used by others as well. To protect the public from CBD, there is a long-standing EPA beryllium ambient air limit set of 0.01 mg/m 3 as a 30-day TWA.Unlike the acute health effects, CBD affects a few percent (0-4%) of those exposed to beryllium. The latency period between exposure and CBD can vary from months to decades. CBD is caused by the immune system's continuing reaction to the less soluble forms of beryllium retained in the body. An individual is considered to be sensitized to beryllium if BeLPT results show they are able to mount an immune response to beryllium. The morbidity and mortality associated with CBD are primarily due to lung damage caused by chronic inflammation. CBD is treatable but not curable.The existing ERPGs for Be are intended to prevent the acute health effects, primarily chemical pneumonitis caused by the more soluble forms of Be. Patients who survive acute beryllium disease will typically recover in less than 1 year. The need for an emergency response to prevent chronic effects is less obvious, and short-term exposure to the less soluble forms of Be could contribute to risk for CBD. Based on medical surveillance data from various DOE sites for current workers tested (13,270) and former workers (43,628), the number of sensitization and CBD cases at each site is a few percent (0-4%). Sensitization and CBD are due to an immune-system response, and they have not been found to be sensitive to the length of employment of a worker in a beryllium facility.

Effects of Beryllium on Human Serum Immunoglobulin and Lymphocyte Subpopulation

“…Exposure to beryllium in workplaces can result in beryllium sensitization or granulomatous disorder (9) . Beryllium acts as an antigen, which is presented by the antigen-presenting cells (APC) to a specific surface antigen receptor of the CD4+ T cells (18 , 19) . As a result, beryllium accumulates the CD4+ T cells.…”

Beryllium: Hazards evaluation, facility classification, consequence analysis of releases during potential accidents, and protection of public and workers

“…On the other hand, beryllium is a toxic material and its inhalation hazard can cause sensitization identified by lymphocyte proliferation testing (BeLPT or BeS), which is a few percentage (0-4%) of the exposed population, can further lead to chronic beryllium disease (CBD) which is an incurable lung disease. 7 However, the percent of CBD are far less than the percentage of BeS cases.…”

Nanopillar Based Enhanced-Fluorescence Detection of Surface-Immobilized Beryllium

“…Approximately 84 metric tons of beryllium products were consumed in the United States market in 2005, with electrical components, aerospace and defense applications accounting for an estimated 80% of that total. [1][2][3][4] In contrast to the benefits of beryllium and its compounds, there are health hazards and risks associated with its use. According to the Environmental Protection Agency the main pathway beryllium enters the human body is inhalation.…”

“…It is estimated that the number of workers in the United States currently exposed to beryllium as being between 54,000 and 134,000, with perhaps 3 to 5 times as many having been exposed at some time in the past. [1][2][3] Although there are well documented health risks associated with beryllium and beryllium compounds they continue to be used. While safeguards such as adequate ventilation and personal protective equipment can reduce risk associated with beryllium 2 it is important to monitor the levels of beryllium in the air and on surfaces in the workplace.…”