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A mortality study of workers at seven beryllium processing plants.

E Ward1, A Okun, A Ruder

  • 1Industrywide Studies Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|January 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Occupational beryllium exposure is linked to increased lung cancer risk in male workers. Mortality studies show elevated lung cancer rates, particularly with longer latency and history of beryllium disease.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational health
  • Environmental epidemiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies beryllium as sufficient based on animal data but limited based on human data.
  • Beryllium exposure is a concern for potential carcinogenicity in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate lung cancer mortality risk among male workers exposed to beryllium.
  • To assess the relationship between beryllium exposure duration, latency, and lung cancer risk.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort mortality study of 9,225 male workers at seven beryllium processing facilities (1940-1969).
  • Vital status ascertained through December 31, 1988.
  • Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) calculated for lung cancer and other causes.

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Main Results:

  • Overall lung cancer SMR was 1.26, with significant elevations at two plants.
  • Elevated SMRs for all deaths, ischemic heart disease, respiratory diseases, and renal failure were observed.
  • Lung cancer risk increased with latency and was highest among workers with prior acute beryllium disease.
  • Risk was elevated even for workers hired in the 1950s, suggesting ongoing risk.

Conclusions:

  • Occupational beryllium exposure is the most plausible cause of increased lung cancer risk.
  • Smoking and geographic location do not fully explain the observed lung cancer excess.
  • Further follow-up and nested case-control studies are needed for definitive risk assessment.