DOE to reduce number of workers exposed to beryllium
The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking And Public Hearings that would amend its chronic beryllium disease (CBD) prevention program regulation by reducing the number of workers who are currently exposed to beryllium, minimizing the potential for and levels of worker exposure, and establishing medical surveillance to monitor the health of beryllium-exposed workers.
According to OSHA, inhaling or contacting beryllium can cause an immune response that results in an individual becoming sensitized to beryllium. Individuals with beryllium sensitization can develop a debilitating disease of the lungs called chronic beryllium disease (CBD) if they inhale airborne beryllium after becoming sensitized. Beryllium-exposed workers may also develop other adverse health effects such as acute beryllium disease, and lung cancer.