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KMID : 0358520080200010001
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Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2008 Volume.20 No. 1 p.1 ~ p.8
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An Outbreak of Acute Beryllium Disease in a Compound Metal Alloy Factory
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Kim Hyun-Joo
Jeong Woo-Chul
Jee Young-Koo
Kim Dae-Sung
Kang Seong-Kyu
Roh Sang-Chul
Cho Kyu-Tag
Kim Dong-Hyun
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Abstract
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Objectives: We conducted an epidemiological survey to inquire into an outbreak of acute pneumonitis
after two reported cases of interstitial lung disease.
Methods: The study subjects were 45 workers from a compound metal alloy factory. We reviewed the
factory’s industrial hygiene data along with the results of a special health examination, including pulmonary
function tests, simple chest X-rays, and high resolution computed tomography.
Results: The air concentrations of beryllium ranged from 0.42 μg/m3 to 112.3 μg/m3, and the mean
concentration of urinary beryllium were 1.53±0.79 μg/g of creatinine in the molding workers, 1.41±
0.50 μg/g of creatinine in the casting workers, and 1.16±0.53 μg/g of creatinine in the sorting workers.
The rates for cough (p=0.054), dyspnea (p=0.030), and the use of medical services (p=0.018) were higher
in the molding workers than in the non-molding workers. The incidence rate of acute interstitial lung disease
was higher for the molding process (32.0%) than for the non-molding process (5.0%) (p=0.012).
The time of employment for all patients was prior to December 1st, 2002.
Conclusions: Since most of the patients were molding workers, and all of the patients had worked
without a ventilation system, this outbreak of acute interstitial lung disease was regarded as acute beryllium
disease. Although the direct cause of the epidemic was the beryllium fumes, the fundamental cause
was improper control of the work environment. Therefore, the means for preventing avoidable epidemics
of occupational diseases are discussed.
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KEYWORD
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Beryllium, Acute interstitial lung disease
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