OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) in a cohort of workers from a nuclear weapons research and development facility. METHODS: We evaluated 50 workers with BeS with medical and occupational histories, physical examination, chest imaging with high-resolution computed tomography (N = 49), and pulmonary function testing. Forty of these workers also underwent bronchoscopy for bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsies. RESULTS: The mean duration of employment at the facility was 18 years and the mean latency (from first possible exposure) to time of evaluation was 32 years. Five of the workers had CBD at the time of evaluation (based on histology or high-resolution computed tomography); three others had evidence of probable CBD. CONCLUSIONS: These workers with BeS, characterized by a long duration of potential Be exposure and a long latency, had a low prevalence of CBD.
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) in a cohort of workers from a nuclear weapons research and development facility. METHODS: We evaluated 50 workers with BeS with medical and occupational histories, physical examination, chest imaging with high-resolution computed tomography (N = 49), and pulmonary function testing. Forty of these workers also underwent bronchoscopy for bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsies. RESULTS: The mean duration of employment at the facility was 18 years and the mean latency (from first possible exposure) to time of evaluation was 32 years. Five of the workers had CBD at the time of evaluation (based on histology or high-resolution computed tomography); three others had evidence of probable CBD. CONCLUSIONS: These workers with BeS, characterized by a long duration of potential Be exposure and a long latency, had a low prevalence of CBD.
Authors: P K Henneberger; D Cumro; D D Deubner; M S Kent; M McCawley; K Kreiss Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2001-04 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Laura Welch; Knut Ringen; Eula Bingham; John Dement; Tim Takaro; William McGowan; Anna Chen; Patricia Quinn Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2004-09 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Holly M Sackett; Lisa A Maier; Lori J Silveira; Margaret M Mroz; Lorraine G Ogden; James R Murphy; Lee S Newman Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2004-09 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Marcos Ribeiro; Leandro G Fritscher; Ahmed M Al-Musaed; Meyer S Balter; Victor Hoffstein; Bruce D Mazer; Lisa A Maier; Gary M Liss; Susan M Tarlo Journal: Lung Date: 2011-03-13 Impact factor: 2.584