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A projected 18 thousand workers may be exposed to Beryllium and Beryllium oxide in the workplace. People working or living near Beryllium industries have the greatest potential for exposure to Beryllium, which can advance to Chronic Beryllium Disease, or other Beryllium associated illnesses. Lung damage has been observed in people exposed to high levels of Beryllium in the air. Up to 15 % of all people occupationally exposed to Beryllium in the air become sensitive to Beryllium and may develop Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD).
Beryllium disease is the outcome of exposure to dust or fumes from Beryllium metal, metal oxides, alloys, ceramics, or salts. Once you have been exposed to Beryllium there is a lifelong risk of developing Beryllium disease. Breathing in relatively high concentrations of Beryllium in dust and metal fumes causes acute Beryllium Disease (ABD). It typically has a quick onset and resembles pneumonia or bronchitis.
Chronic Beryllium Disease is a terminal lung disease caused by inhaling Beryllium dust and fumes. Symptoms of Chronic Beryllium Disease are breathing complications, chest pain, coughing, and general weakness. Chronic Beryllium Disease can develop as late as thirty years after a person was last exposed to Beryllium, though the usual latency period is about eight to ten years. In some people, the disease develops slowly, but in others it may produce respiratory problems much more quickly.
Texas Accident Help Center - Chronic Beryllium Disease
If you have been exposed to Beryllium there is a possibility that you could have Acute Beryllium Disease (ABD) or Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). It is imperative that you alert your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms that may be brought on by exposure to Beryllium.
The following industrial industries use Beryllium, or products that contain the metal, and may expose workers to Beryllium:
- Beryllium metallurgy (production of Beryllium metal and compounds)
- Dental plates manufacturing
- Die casting
- Extraction of Beryllium (smelting and refining)
- Guidance and navigation systems manufacturing
- Handling/assembly
- Microcircuits
- Nuclear applications
- Plastic molding
- Precision machining
- Rocket parts and heat shields
- Stamping/cutting
- Thermal castings
- Welding electrodes
- X-ray tube window manufacturing
What is the Treatment of Chronic Beryllium Disease?
Treatment is very effective in controlling the disease; however, a complete recovery with or without treatment is rare.
- Patients who are sensitized to Beryllium , but do not yet have the disease do not need treatment. However, they do need to be checked by a doctor frequently for signs of disease.
- Patients who have early Beryllium disease , but do not yet have symptoms , might not need treatment right away. However, they need to be checked by a doctor regularly. Some people who are detected at the early stages may go many years without requiring treatment.
- Patients with Beryllium disease who do have symptoms and abnormal breathing tests are typically treated with prednisone. This is a type of corticosteroid that combats inflammation. Treatment with this medication often stabilizes the disease and improves symptoms. Other immune suppressing medicines may also help.
- Beryllium fragments imbedded in the skin often must be removed before skin wounds will heal.
What Can I Do to Avoid Beryllium Exposure?
It is not possible to determine your exact risk for developing Beryllium disease. However here are some general guidelines that you can follow to reduce your exposure.
- Avoid breathing Beryllium dust or fumes by working in well-ventilated, well-exhausted areas where Beryllium air observation is done regularly. Use all ventilation and exhaust equipment accessible in order to reduce exposures to the lowest possible level.
- Whenever possible, work with non-Beryllium metals, alloys, ceramics and salts.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke in areas where Beryllium is in use.
- Before entering work areas where Beryllium is used, change into work clothes, including shirt, pants and shoes. At the end of the work shift take a shower and completely clean your hands and hair before changing into street clothing. Leave all Beryllium tainted clothing at work.
- Use approved respirators for tasks that may result in high exposures.
- Minimize even "passerby" indirect exposures to Beryllium, by staying out of areas where Beryllium dust or fumes may be produced.
- Avoid generating Beryllium dust unless the process is well protected and has been sampled for exposure levels.
- Do not disturb settled dust unless you are properly protected. Avoid using an air hose to clean Beryllium parts or contaminated machinery. Avoid all dry sweeping or other activities that can put microscopic Beryllium dust particles into the air.
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