Beryllium sensitization and lung function among former workers at the Nevada Test Site

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Beryllium use at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) was unrecognized until the late 1990s.
• A U.S. DOE-funded screening program began in 1998, with beryllium sensitization (BeS) testing initiated in 2001 for former NTS workers.
• The program aimed to identify individuals at higher risk for chronic beryllium disease (CBD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate work-related factors associated with the likelihood of beryllium sensitization (BeS) among former Nevada Test Site (NTS) workers.
• To assess the prevalence of BeS in this cohort.
• To identify specific job tasks that may increase the risk of developing BeS.

Main Methods:

• An observational study design was employed.
• Work history questionnaires were administered to former NTS workers.
• Principal components analysis was used to categorize job tasks and analyze their association with BeS.

Main Results:

• Out of 1,786 workers screened, 23 (1.3%) had positive BeS results.
• Increased odds of BeS were observed in workers involved in cleanup (OR=2.68) and those working in Building B for beryllium machining (OR=2.52).
• A longer duration of employment at NTS was also associated with an increased risk of BeS.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of beryllium sensitization (BeS) among participating former NTS workers was 1.3%.
• Specific job tasks, including cleanup and beryllium part machining, were associated with a higher risk of BeS.
• The findings underscore the importance of targeted screening and risk mitigation for workers with potential beryllium exposure.