Mortality Risk from Exposure to Beryllium: Exposure Assessment and Comorbidities
Abstract
An association between exposure to beryllium and cancers of the lung, kidney, bladder, and central nervous system, as well as chronic respiratory diseases has been reported in some previous studies, but the results are not conclusive. We aim at conducting a large and detailed study of risk of cancer and respiratory diseases among more than 16,000 workers employed in fifteen beryllium plants across the United States. A preliminary analysis of this population has shown that workers employed before 1955 in facilities in which soluble beryllium compounds were used were at increased risk of lung cancer, while workers employed in facilities in which only insoluble beryllium was used, as well as workers employed after 1955, did not experience such an increased risk. The risk of other cancers was not increased. Mortality from non-neoplastic respiratory diseases other than bronchitis, emphysema and asthma was increased, with a pattern similar to that of lung cancer. In this preliminary analysis, however, detailed data on individual level of exposure were not available, which reduced the ability to understand the relationship between beryllium exposure and lung cancer risk. Similarly, data on other factors which may influence mortality, such as tobacco smoking, were not available. The proposed study will overcome these limitations by developing a detailed assessment of exposure to beryllium, collecting data on other risk factors, and greatly expanding the number of events of interest. The outcomes of interest are cancer overall and cancers of the lung, kidney, bladder, and central nervous system, as well as chronic respiratory diseases. The study will have an impact on the prevention of cancer and other diseases among workers exposed to beryllium, in particular in the military, one of the most important population groups with potential exposure to beryllium. A more detailed understanding of the role of beryllium in human disease would also inform preventive policies for the population at large. The proposed study is expected to provide more comprehensive and valid data on the risk of cancer and respiratory diseases from beryllium exposure compared to what is currently available, leading to the development and implementation of effective regulatory actions in the short/medium term, which would be relevant to the military, other workers, and the public at large. The proposed research is relevant to the FY22 TERP Program Goal, Elucidate mechanisms of how toxic exposures result in adverse effects, and to the FY22 TERP Topic Area, Other Military Service-Related Toxic Exposures in General, Including … Metals, and Minerals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310953
Entities
People
- Tiffani Fordyce
Organizations
- Exponent
- United States Army