Beryllium

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

other: Case report (insurance)

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Information on a single patient, only diagnoses and exposure estimates given

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Lung tumours by using beryllium containing tools? (Lungentumor durch die Bearbeitung berylliumhaltiger Werkzeuge?)

Author:

Kampen V. van, J.Buenger, R. Merget, Bruening T.

Year:

2008

Bibliographic source:

BGFA-Info 02/08, 6 - 9, (2008) Forschungsinstitut für Arbeitsmedizin der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung

Materials and methods

Study type:

clinical case study

Endpoint addressed:

carcinogenicity

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Beryllium

EC Number:

231-150-7

EC Name:

Beryllium

Cas Number:

7440-41-7

Molecular formula:

Be

IUPAC Name:

beryllium

Method

Subjects:

Human male, 60 - 70 years old.

Route of exposure:

inhalation

Reason of exposure:

unintentional, occupational

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

Not given. Chemotherpy with little effect. Brain metastase treated by radiation.

Any other information on results incl. tables

The history of the patient does not report any incident of acute beyllium disease.

Potenial causal exposures:

Asbestos: 0.8 "fibre years"

Be containing dusts (max. 2 %): 0.5 h/week over 18 years

Smoking: 63 - 100 "package years"

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The BGFA accepts beryllium as cause for lung tumors only if the person has suffered from an acute beryllium disease before.

Executive summary:

The case of a former airplane mechanic with an adenocarcinoma T2 NX M1 (BRA), Stadium IV is discussed with regard to his professional exposure beryllium containing dusts. The exposure was deemed low and as there is no acute beryllium disease on record, the causality of beryllium was denied. Smoking is considered as cause.