Berylliosis - Chronic Beryllium Disease

What is Berylliosis/Chronic Beryllium Disease?

Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) is characterized by the inflammation of the lungs caused by exposure to Beryllium fumes or dust. There are a number of occupations more afflicted with CBD. The industries in which Beryllium can be found include the following:

Electronics
Atomic energy
Laboratory work
Metal working
Ceramic manufacturing
Extraction
Dental work

Causes

In 1979, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported that exposure to Beryllium causes cancer in humans.¹ This finding ultimately lead to the understanding that exposure to Beryllium is what causes CBD. When individuals inhale Beryllium dust or fumes, they may develop CBD.

Symptoms

CBD exists in two forms: acute and chronic. Although the incidences of CBD in the acute form are now rare, the disease is characterized by respiratory conditions such as pneumonia or bronchitis. In the chronic form, it takes a lot longer for symptoms to appear. An allergic reaction is usually the cause of this form of CBD. The following are the general symptoms associated with CBD:

Cough
Shortness of breath, especially with activity
Fatigue
Weight loss and/or loss of appetite
Fevers
Night sweats

Treatment

CBD is an incurable disease. There are numerous medications available to treat the symptoms. Steroids are by far the most widely used form of treatment for CBD because they can reduce the inflammation that can build up in the lungs. The most common prescribed steroids are Adrenocortical, Dexamethasone, and Prednisolone. Although steroid treatment for CBD has shown to be successful, the possible side effects associated with steroid use may deem steroids unacceptable treatment for some individuals. In advanced cases of CBD, lung transplants offer the best hope of survival.

For those individuals whose symptoms are related to wounds, they may just require a health professional to remove particles of Beryllium that may have become embedded in the skin because the individual suffered a scrape or cut.

Legal Options

Although some individuals suffering from CBD have been successful in court, the process can be very frustrating. Perhaps the most frustrating issue for victims is proving when the exposure actually occurred. Since CBD can take up to as many as 40 years to appear, discovering the origin of the onset can be difficult.

Major Legal Cases

Although not a legal case, the establishment of The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (H.R. 5408) to compensate Department of Energy workers diagnosed with CBD has helped legal professionals in their lawsuits. The program grants those who qualify, a lump sum payment of $150,000 for disability and future associated medical expenses.²

References and Resources

^{1 Harvard Report on Cancer Prevention, Volume 1: Causes of Human
Cancer, Cancer Causes & Control, An International Journal of Studies of
Cancer in Human Populations

Official Journal of the International Association of Cancer Registries, Volume 7
Supplement November 1996 ISSN 0957-5243
^{2 Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/theact/title36.pdf)
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/theact/title36.pdf)
National Cancer Institute (http://www.nci.nih.gov)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (http://www.osha.gov)
Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov)}}