Chronic Beryllium Disease: Causes

It is important to know that no one develops beryllium sensitization or chronic beryllium disease (CBD) unless they are exposed to beryllium. Beryllium sensitization and CBD may develop after an individual breathes beryllium dust or fume. Not every individual who is exposed to beryllium will experience health effects.

Studies have shown that on average, 2-6 percent of exposed workers develop sensitivity, although the rates can be as high as 20 percent among workers with the highest exposures, such as beryllium machinists ^1,2-5. It is estimated that CBD occurs in 2 to 5 percent of all beryllium-exposed workers, although the rates have been shown to be as high as 16 percent among individuals performing certain processes, such as machinists ^1,4-6. Factors such as particle size, type of beryllium used, amount and duration of exposure to beryllium, occupation, industry, and genetics may all play a role in determining why some people get sick and others do not. Once you are exposed to beryllium, you carry a lifelong risk of developing beryllium sensitization or CBD, even if the exposure amount was small or you are no longer exposed.

Beryllium Sensitization Increases Risk

Any individual found to have beryllium sensitization is highly likely to additionally develop CBD. When people with beryllium sensitization undergo clinical evaluation to determine if they have CBD, between 20 percent and 100 percent of them are found to have this illness on their first evaluation. If you have undergone evaluation and are found to have beryllium sensitization at the current time, you are still at significant risk for developing CBD in the future. Recent research suggests that each year, 6 percent to 8 percent of people with beryllium sensitization will develop CBD ⁷.

References

1. Kreiss K, Mroz MM, Zhen B, Martyny JW, Newman LS. Epidemiology of beryllium sensitization and disease in nuclear workers. Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 148:985-991.

2. Kriebel D, et al. The pulmonary toxicity of beryllium. Am Rev Respir Dis 1988; 137: 464-473.

3. Kreiss K, Newman LS, Mroz M, Campbell PA. Screening blood test identifies subclinical beryllium disease. J Occ Med 1989; 31:603-608.

4. Kreiss K, Wasserman S, Mroz MM, Newman LS. Beryllium disease screening in the ceramics industry: Blood test performance and exposure-disease relations. J Occup Med 1993; 35:267-274.

5. Kreiss K, Mroz MM, Newman LS, Martyny J, Zhen B. Machining risk of beryllium disease and sensitization with median exposures below 2 mg/m³. Am J Indust Med 1996; 30:16-25.

6. Kreiss K, et al. Risks of beryllium disease related to work processes at a metal, alloy and oxide production plant. Occup Environ Med 1997; 54:605-612.

7. Newman LS, Mroz MM, Balkisoon RC, Maier LA. Beryllium sensitization progresses to chronic beryllium disease: a longitudinal study of disease risk. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004; published ahead of print on September 16, 2004 as doi:10.1164/rccm.200402-190OC.