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Managing Health Effects of Beryllium Exposure (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Summary
Pages 3-9

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From page 3...
... That review is expanded in this, the second report, in which the committee also considers the maximum chronic inhalation exposure to beryllium that is unlikely to produce adverse health effects, discusses carcinogenic risks, and describes testing methods for surveillance and monitoring of worker populations.
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From page 4...
... In its second report, the committee will estimate chronic inhalation exposure levels for military personnel and civilian contractor workers that are unlikely to produce ad verse health effects. The committee will provide carcinogenic risk estimates for various inhalation exposure levels.
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From page 5...
... Thus, it is not possible to rely on animal models to determine potential human health effects of low-dose chronic beryllium exposures in workers. It is clear from animal and human data that susceptibility to BeS and CBD has genetic components.
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From page 6...
... Recommendation: In the absence of sufficient evidence to establish a chronic inhalation level for beryllium that that is unlikely to result in BeS or CBD, the committee recommends that the Air Force implement an exposureand disease-management program to protect its workers. The program should involve industrial-hygiene assessments to identify potentially exposed workers, to eliminate as many job tasks involving exposure to beryllium particles as possible, and to minimize the number of workers performing those tasks; screening of potentially exposed workers for BeS; medical management of BeS and CBD; and stringent engineering and work-practice controls to keep beryllium exposure as low as is feasible.
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From page 7...
... Despite some issues regarding the reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity of the BeLPT, the committee judged it to be an adequate assay for use in a surveillance program. The committee was asked by the Air Force to comment on five questions about the BeLPT.
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From page 8...
... • What followup tests should be performed on workers with positive BeLPT results? Workers with positive BeLPT results should undergo further medical evaluation, which should generally include a medical and occupational questionnaire, pulmonary-function tests that include lung volumes and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, and high-resolution computed tomography of the chest when indicated.
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From page 9...
... Furthermore, carcinogenic risk estimates would be of limited utility in light of the committee's recommendation that the Air Force implement an exposure- and disease-management program to reduce exposure to beryllium to the lowest feasible magnitude to prevent BeS and CBD.
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Key Terms

  • inhalation exposure
  • beryllium disease
  • carcinogenic risk
  • belpt results
  • exposed workers

  • risk estimates
  • chronic beryllium
  • positive belpt
  • chronic inhalation
  • positive test

  • lung cancer
  • test result
  • acute beryllium
  • beryllium lymphocyte
  • belpt result

  • true positive
  • proliferation test
  • developing cbd
  • exposure levels
  • predicting cbd

  • reduce exposure
  • committee judged
  • consistent test
  • worker cohorts
  • potentially exposed

  • lymphocyte proliferation
  • prevent bes
  • insufficient data
  • force implement
  • mechanisms underlying


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