Abstract
A cohort of 1,464 current and former workers from two beryllium processing facilities in Eastern Pennsylvania were screened utilizing chest radiographs interpreted by a panel of three "B" readers, spirometry and blood beryllium lymphocyte proliferation testing (BLPT) to look at predictors of Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) and Beryllium Sensitization (BS). Individuals with radiographs which at least 2 of 3 "B" readers interpreted as showing changes consistent with pneumoconiosis and/or two positive BLPTs were referred for bronchoscopy with bronchial lavage and biopsy. Sixty (4.1%) individuals were diagnosed with definite or probable CBD, another 16 (1.1%) with possible CBD, 72 (4.9%) with BS and 10 (0.7%) with possible BS. Predictors examined included: facility A vs. facility B the OR = 1.5 (95% CI .9-2.7)for CBD and the OR = 1.3 (95% CI .8-2.2) for BS; female vs. male gender the OR = .9 (95% CI .4- 2.8) for CBD and the OR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.1-4.9) for BS; never vs. ever smoked the OR = 1.3 (95% CI .8-2.4) for CBD and the OR = 1.5 (95% CI .9-2.5) for BS. No association was found between CBD and duration (p = 0.3). BS increased with shorter duration
Keywords
Beryllium-poisoning; Beryllium-disease; Beryllium-compounds; Chest-X-rays; Spirometry; Blood-sampling; Blood-analysis; Pneumoconiosis; Genes; Genetics; Genetic-factors; Respiratory-system-disorders; Pulmonary-system-disorders
Document Type
Abstract; Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-512218
Priority Area
Research Tools and Approaches: Exposure Assessment Methods
Source Name
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2002 International Conference, The American Thoracic Society, Atlanta Georgia, May 17-22, 2002
Performing Organization
Michigan State University