The
Department
of Health and Human Services, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the International Agency for Research
on Cancer consider beryllium to be carcinogenic. Various studies
implicate beryllium in lung cancer. Individuals with a history of
beryllium exposure who develop lung cancer should be evaluated to
determine if beryllium played a role in causing the cancer.
Chronic
beryllium disease or CBD
CBD Symptoms:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Skin rash (sometimes)
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CBD
victims first develop "beryllium sensitization," which is an allergic
response to beryllium. Symptoms of the disease include cough, shortness
of breath, fatigue, fevers, skin rash, and night sweats. In the
later stages, lung tissue becomes scarred. In severe cases, the
right side of the heart may be strained due to increased pressure
in the pulmonary artery from lung damage. (Beryllium,
a Chronic Problem, Environmental Health Perspectives; Diseases
Due to Inorganic Dusts, Merck Manual).
The
average time from first beryllium exposure to the development of
CBD symptoms (the latency period) can be a few months or as long
as forty years (Medfacts,
National Jewish Medical & Research Center).Once a person has
been exposed to beryllium, there is a lifelong risk of developing
the disease.
Testing
for CBD includes the use of chest x-rays and blood tests. Although
it can be treated, CBD can not be cured.
Acute
beryllium disease
Acute
beryllium disease (ABD) is caused by breathing in relatively high
concentrations of beryllium in dust and metal fumes (Beryllium,
a Chronic Problem, Environmental Health Perspectives). Symptoms
associated with ABD include difficulty breathing, cough, and chest
pain.
ABD
usually occurs within months of exposure and resembles pneumonia
or bronchitis, causing reddening or swelling of the lungs (Medfacts,
National Jewish Medical & Research Center). It is much less
common than CBD.
Skin
Irritation
Skin
irritation is another potential beryllium-related health problem.
Exposure to beryllium dust or soluble compounds may cause a skin
disease which is characterized by poor wound healing and wart-like
bumps. A skin rash may also be one of the early symptoms of CBD.
Beryllium
particles may become embedded in skin that has been scraped or cut,
resulting in skin ulcers. Beryllium particles must be removed if
the skin wounds are to have any chance of healing.
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