What Is Berylliosis?

Beryllium is a silver-gray light metal. Both beryllium and its salts are more toxic. Acute beryllium poisoning is a large inhalation of soot and steam from beryllium and its compounds.

Beryllium

Beryllium disease is a systemic disease mainly caused by respiratory damage caused by exposure to beryllium or its compounds. Acute respiratory inflammation caused by inhalation of high concentrations of beryllium or its compounds in a short period of time is called acute beryllium disease; exposure to beryllium and its compounds causes lung granuloma or pulmonary interstitial fibrosis mainly after a certain incubation period. Called chronic beryllium disease.

Introduction to beryllium

Beryllium is a silver-gray light metal. Both beryllium and its salts are more toxic. Acute beryllium poisoning is a large inhalation of soot and steam from beryllium and its compounds.

Beryllium Caused by gas, the clinical manifestations are chemical bronchitis and pneumonia. Chronic beryllium poisoning causes a systemic disease, mainly pulmonary granulomatous lesions, also known as beryllium disease. Short-term inhalation of high concentrations of beryllium or its compounds causes acute respiratory tract chemical inflammation, which is called acute beryllium disease; after exposure to beryllium and its compounds, pulmonary granulomas and pulmonary interstitial fibers occur during a certain incubation period. The main disease is called chronic beryllium disease.

Causes of beryllium

Common beryllium alloys include beryllium copper, beryllium aluminum, and beryllium iron alloys; beryllium compounds include beryllium fluoride, beryllium oxide, beryllium hydroxide, beryllium sulfate, beryllium nitrate, and beryllium chloride. Beryllium is often used in scientific and technological fields such as atomic energy, satellites, missiles, aerospace, aviation, and electronics.

In the production environment, beryllium and its compounds are absorbed through the respiratory tract or damaged skin in the state of smoke or dust, and are transported to the internal organs in the form of beryllium phosphate and beryllium hydroxide after entering the blood. Acute toxic effects are mainly irritative inflammation of the mucosa and extensive necrosis of internal organs; the main diseased organs of chronic toxic effects are the lungs, which appear special non-caseinized endosperm, which gradually forms pulmonary fibrosis. Acute beryllium disease is actively treated and usually healed within 3 to 7 months. Chronic beryllium disease forms pulmonary fibrosis, which can leave sequelae to varying degrees.

Mechanism of beryllium virus

Beryllium is mainly absorbed through the respiratory tract in the form of dust, smoke and vapor. The uptake rate of beryllium and its salts in the gastrointestinal tract does not exceed 0.2%; it can be absorbed through damaged skin and cause local lesions.

Beryllium and its compounds are highly toxic and are mainly inhaled through the respiratory tract in the form of dust or soot. The gastrointestinal tract is not absorbed and cannot enter the body through intact skin. Beryllium poisoning is mainly found in workers who produce beryllium and its compounds.

Beryllium

Beryllium symptoms

Acute beryllium is rare. 3-6 hours after inhalation of a large amount of soluble beryllium compounds can cause symptoms: headache, fatigue, low fever, cough, dyspnea, dull chest pain, and improvement after 1 week. Severe cases may have paroxysmal cough, bloody sputum, heart rate, and increased breathing. X-ray examination has hilar shadows.

Chronic beryllopathy develops in about 5 years after exposure to higher concentrations of beryllium dust. The main manifestations were dyspnea, sputum, chest pain, clubbing fingers and pulmonary heart disease. Chest X-ray can be shown as granulomatous, reticulated and nodular.

Skin and mucous membrane damage is mainly contact dermatitis with a little desquamation. It can also cause mucosal irritation, such as conjunctivitis and nasopharyngitis.

Beryllium diagnosis principles

Based on a clear history of occupational exposure, clinical manifestations mainly of the respiratory system, and chest X-ray signs, a comprehensive analysis can be made with reference to the environmental sanitation survey and on-site beryllium concentration measurement data to exclude other similar diseases before diagnosis.

Essentials of clinical diagnosis of beryllium

1. Have an exact history of beryllium exposure;

2. The results of beryllium concentration measurement in the operating environment;

3. Clinical manifestations mainly on the respiratory system. X-ray examination of the lungs shows positive and long-term changes, including reticulate, punctate, or nodular shadows;

Beryllium

4. Exclude other similar diseases;

Five, urine beryllium test and skin patch test are positive;

Six, diagnostic grading standards:

(I) Observation object

There are often respiratory symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough. Chest X-rays have no positive or only a small amount of scattered fine sand or nodular shadows based on the reticular shadows of the two middle and lower lung regions.

(Two) chronic beryllium disease

Have different degrees of shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, chest pain and other symptoms, weight loss, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and one of the following conditions:

1. The chest X-ray film has increased texture and distortion in the two lower and middle lung regions, accompanied by reticulated shadows, and the hilar can be enlarged, sometimes with extensive pulmonary fibrosis.

2. Based on the above clinical manifestations, accompanied by diffuse pulmonary dysfunction or abnormal specific immune indicators.

(Three) acute beryllium disease

Mild

There are symptoms of respiratory tract irritation such as dry pain in the nasopharynx, severe cough, and sternum discomfort. Chest X-ray films can have enhanced lung texture, distortion and disturbance.

Severe

Shortness of breath, cough, expectoration, hemoptysis, fever, audible lungs and wet rales. The chest X-ray shows diffuse cloud floc or large patches in the lung field, and sometimes pulmonary edema and respiratory failure may occur. ^[1]

Principles of beryllium treatment

Chronic beryllium disease

In addition to symptomatic and supportive treatment, adrenal glucocorticoid drugs can be applied according to the condition.

Acute beryllium

Leave the scene quickly. Remove body surface and clothing pollutants; mild cases symptomatic treatment; in addition to routine medical treatment, adrenal glucocorticoids can be applied early.

Emergency measures for beryllium

Patients with acute poisoning should be given antispasmodic, asthma, antitussive, and oxygen inhalation; chemical pneumonia can be treated with adrenal corticosteroids; patients with chronic poisoning can be treated with adrenal corticosteroids and edetate disodium calcium.

Identification of beryllium labor ability

Observed

Generally, the beryllium operation is not performed, and a close clinical observation is performed for two years (the chest X-ray film is taken every six months). If the disease does not develop, arrange a regular health checkup as required by the beryllium operator.

Chronic beryllium disease

Beryllium operations and other dust operations should be removed. Appropriate work can be arranged for mild cases, and severe cases should be hospitalized and recuperated.

Beryllium

Acute beryllium

After treatment, in principle, beryllium is no longer engaged. Close observation should be performed, and chest X-ray examinations are performed every six months. If there is no change for two consecutive years, dynamic observation can be performed by beryllium operators.

Assessment of Disability Level and Workability Loss

I. Lung damage

The assessment of the level of disability and the loss of work capacity should be based on the degree of respiratory impairment. For specific methods, refer to the assessment criteria for respiratory dysfunction caused by cadmium and its compound poisoning.

Skin damage caused by beryllium

For the identification of disability, please refer to the evaluation criteria for occupational skin diseases.

3. For disability assessment of concurrent liver and kidney diseases, please refer to other related content operations .

Remark

1. When judging the results of leukocyte migration inhibition test and beryllium-activated rosette test with beryllium as the antigen, it should be considered whether the examinee has a recent medical history of glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressants.

2. After the acute beryllium disease is cured, the beryllium operation will no longer be performed in principle. Close observation should be performed and a chest X-ray examination should be performed every six months. If there is no change for two consecutive years, regular health examinations should be arranged according to the requirements of the general beryllium operator.

Requirements for beryllium health checks

1 All beryllium operators should undergo a pre-employment medical examination. The examination items include internal medicine, facial medicine, dermatology, chest X-ray, and liver function tests if necessary.

2 Those who have participated in the beryllium operation should undergo a physical examination every two years (the project is the same as above, and specific immune indicators can be increased if necessary).