Beryllium Health Surveillance in U.S. Department of Energy Facilities

Beryllium Health Surveillance inU.S. Department of Energy Facilities

Beryllium Health Surveillance inBeryllium Health Surveillance inU.S. Department of Energy FacilitiesU.S. Department of Energy Facilities

Arthur W. Stange, Ph.D.Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

-- IRSST, BERYLLIUM 2005 IRSST, BERYLLIUM 2005 --

March 8, 2005

U.S. DOE Beryllium Health IssuesA Chronology

U.S. DOE Beryllium Health IssuesU.S. DOE Beryllium Health IssuesA ChronologyA Chronology

1933: First description of acute beryllium disease in the literature (Weber and Engelhardt1, Germany)

1943: U.S. PHS published NIH Bulletin 1812, “The Toxicology of Beryllium,” stating that beryllium metal was not toxicBeryllium first used at the University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory “Site B”

1946: First U.S. beryllium disease (chronic) cases reported in fluorescent light bulb industry (Hardy and Tabershaw3, Massachusetts)

1947: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) founded

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1948: Occupational exposure limit of 2 µg/m3 was proposed by Merril Eisenbud (by analogy with lead, mercury and cadmium)

1949: AEC established the “Advisory Committee on Beryllium”, chaired by Dr. Harriet Hardy

1951: AEC began funding the “Beryllium Case Registry”,directed by Dr. Hardy

1955: ACGIH tentatively adopted the proposed beryllium limit1956: AEC published “Recommendations for the Control of

Beryllium Hazards4”, and placed it in vendor contracts



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1956: Destructive testing of beryllium sub-assemblies at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Site 300AEC contracted with Brush Wellman and Beryllium Corp. for 200,000 lbs. of beryllium/year (beginning in 1958)

1959: Breslin & Harris5 (AEC) published “Health Protection in Beryllium Facilities: Summary of Ten Years Experience”

1972: U.S. NIOSH and OSHA adopt the 2 µg/m3 standard1977: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) founded1978: DOE creates beryllium taskforce to study new proposed

OSHA carcinogenic beryllium standard1984: First case of chronic beryllium disease (CBD) at DOE

Rocky Flats Plant



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1987: NJMRC beryllium-LPT pilot program at Rocky Flats1991: DOE approves/funds beryllium testing at Rocky Flats1992: DOE approves/funds Rocky Flats former worker testing

U.S. Congress, Public Law 102-484, Section 31626

1993: DOE implements Former Worker Programs1997: DOE Notice 440.17 “Interim Chronic Beryllium Disease

Prevention Program (CBDPP)” is published2000: DOE CBDPP becomes effective at all sites

U.S. Congress passes the EEOICPA2001: EEOICPA makes first CBD claim award



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Purpose and Objective:Reduce the number of current workers exposed to berylliumPerform comprehensive inventory and hazard assessments for beryllium by qualified industrial hygienistsMinimize the levels of beryllium exposureMinimize the potential for exposure to berylliumEstablish medical surveillance protocols to ensure earlydetection of CBD

The Department of EnergyCurrent Worker CBDPP

The Department of EnergyThe Department of EnergyCurrent Worker CBDPPCurrent Worker CBDPP

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05

101520

253035

Y-12

RFETS

KCP

Pantex

LLNL

CBD Sensitized

Current Worker CBDPPCurrent Worker CBDPPCurrent Worker CBDPP

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Nationwide Beryllium and Former Worker Programs

Public Law 102-484, Section 3162 (1992)

Nationwide Beryllium and Nationwide Beryllium and Former Worker ProgramsFormer Worker Programs

Public Law 102-484, Section 3162 (1992)

Purpose and Objective:Identify the hazardous substances and radioactive materials to which DOE current and former employees may have been exposedDetermine the appropriate number, scope, and frequency of medical evaluations required to evaluate exposuresImplement medical exams and tests for those DOE employees who are subject to significant health risks as the result of their work at DOE facilities

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.

... .

..

. .. ...

.

.

.

.

...

.. .. ...

..

.DOE Site/Facility ParticipationDOE Site/Facility ParticipationDOE Site/Facility Participation

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Nationwide Beryllium SurveillanceNationwide Beryllium Surveillance

22,774 workers tested (12/31/2004)4,932 Y-129,619 Rocky Flats (RFETS)

698 Mound3,243 Kansas City (KCP)1,093 Pantex

338 Iowa Army Ammunition (IAAP)1,804 Lawrence Livermore (LLNL)1,047 Other DOE Sites

CBD cases = 205; Sensitivity cases = 714

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0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

Y-12RFETS

Mound

KCP

Pantex

IAAP

LLNL

CBD Sensitized

Nationwide Beryllium SurveillanceNationwide Beryllium Surveillance

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Former Worker ProgramsFormer Worker ProgramsFormer Worker Programs

~22,000 workers tested (12/31/2004)3,242 K-253,194 Hanford2,175 Idaho2,113 LANL1,344 Nevada Test Site1,734 Oak Ridge and K-25 Construction1,573 Paducah1,793 Portsmouth2,936 Savannah River

CBD cases = 27; Sensitivity cases = 259

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0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

K-25Han

fordIdahoLANL

NTSOR Const

r.Padu

cah

Portsmouth SRS

CBD Sensitized

Former Worker ProgramsFormer Worker ProgramsFormer Worker Programs

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* 23 cases of CBD identified by NJMRC prior to June 1991

Rocky Flats Y-12 Kansas City06/91-12/04 12/93-12/04 03/00-12/04

Number Tested 9,619 4,932 3,243Sensitized cases 344 147 68CBD cases 123* 48 1

Lymphocyte Proliferation Test ResultsLymphocyte Proliferation Test ResultsLymphocyte Proliferation Test Results

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Number NumberTested Sensitized Prevalence

Beryllium Machinist 201 24 11.94%Health Physics Technician 42 5 11.90%Construction Trades 191 19 9.95%Decontamination &

Decommissioning 157 12 7.64%General Laborer 483 27 5.59%Administrative 2,254 98 4.35% Security 288 4 1.39%

Overall 5,173 235 4.54%

* Rocky Flats (6/91-12/97); Some individuals held more than one job title.

Prevalence of Beryllium Sensitizationby Job Title*

Prevalence of Beryllium SensitizationPrevalence of Beryllium Sensitizationby Job Title*by Job Title*

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CBD more prevalent than DOE initially thoughtCBD cases are not restricted to those whose job title indicated beryllium workRetesting finds cases of sensitization and CBD after initial normal test(s)

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons Learned

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Many workers sensitized to beryllium will likely go on to develop CBDCompliance with the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit of 2 µg/m3 does not rule out the possibility of CBD


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Be-LPT is efficacious in medical surveillance of beryllium-exposed individuals


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Continue analyses of current and former worker surveillance data to determine:

frequency of retestingduration of retestingrate of progression from sensitization to CBD and CBD to disability

Investigation of pre- and post-Beryllium Rule populations

Future WorkFuture WorkFuture Work

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AEC/DOE quickly recognized beryllium as a potential health hazard and action was takenDOE recognized sensitivity and CBD as serious health problems within their facilitiesSensitivity and CBD can be found in worker populations not directly exposed to berylliumSensitivity and CBD are a function of the conditions of exposure

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

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1. Weber H., and W. E. Engelhardt. Application of the Research on Dusts from Beryllium Production. Zentrabl Gewerbehof Unfallverhuet. 1933. 10: 41-47.

2. Hyslop F., Palmes E.D., Alford W.C., et al. The toxicology of beryllium. Nat Institute of Health (NIH) Bulletin No 181. U.S. Public Health Service, 1943.

3. Hardy H.L., and I.R. Tabershaw. Delayed Chemical Pneumonitis Occurring in Workers Exposed to Beryllium Compounds. The Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. 1946. 28:197-211.

4. United States Atomic Energy Commission. AEC Recommendations for the Control of Beryllium Hazards. November 1, 1956. NV0706073. Washington, DC.

5. Breslin A.J., and W.B. Harris. Health protection in beryllium facilities; summary of ten years of experience. Archives of Industrial Health. June, 1959. 19(6):596-648.

6. U.S. Congress. The Defense Authorization Act of 1993, Public Law 102-484, Section 3162. Washington, DC.

7. U.S. Department of Energy. July 15, 1997. Notice 440.1. Interim Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program. Washington, DC: US Department of Energy.

ReferencesReferencesReferences

Documents

Beryllium Health Surveillance in U.S. Department of Energy Facilities