Paustenbach D J, Madl A K, Greene J F
Exponent, Menlo Park, California, USA.
Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 2001 May;16(5):527-38. doi: 10.1080/10473220121280.
The occupational exposure limit of 2.0 microg/m3 for beryllium has been used in the workplace since the late 1940s. In particular, the adequacy of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for beryllium has recently come into question. The symposium "Beryllium: Effect on Worker Health" was convened in September 1999, to bring together leading scientists to present and discuss current research activities on beryllium exposure and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). One of the key questions to be resolved at the symposium was, "Is there a sufficient understanding of exposure and the cause of CBD that would allow us to develop a TLV that we believe would prevent disease?" Seven scientists presented information regarding the current understanding of the disease, possible causes, and ongoing research. The topics were (1) biomonitoring approaches and their relationship with clinical effects, (2) historical and current exposure assessments, (3) sampling methods and aerosol characterization, and (4) epidemiology. Six basic hypotheses regarding the relationship between exposure to beryllium and CBD were generated from the information presented at the symposium. The six hypotheses that are related to issues such as beryllium form, particle size, industrial hygiene practices, extrapulmonary routes of exposure, and genetic susceptibility also appear to be the focus of ongoing and likely future research initiatives. This article summarizes both the presentations made at the meeting and the hypotheses generated. It is expected that an understanding of these issues should explain the inconsistent dose-response relationship observed between exposure and CBD. The ongoing and planned research is anticipated to provide sufficient data within two to three years to develop one or more scientifically sound TLVs for the different chemical forms of beryllium.
自20世纪40年代末以来，铍在工作场所的职业接触限值一直为2.0微克/立方米。特别是，美国政府工业卫生学家会议（ACGIH）制定的铍阈限值（TLV）是否充分，最近受到了质疑。1999年9月召开了“铍：对工人健康的影响”研讨会，汇聚了顶尖科学家，以展示和讨论铍暴露与慢性铍病（CBD）的当前研究活动。研讨会上要解决的关键问题之一是：“对于铍暴露和CBD病因的了解是否足够，使我们能够制定出我们认为可预防疾病的TLV？”七位科学家介绍了有关该疾病当前认识、可能病因及正在进行的研究的信息。主题包括：（1）生物监测方法及其与临床效应的关系；（2）历史和当前暴露评估；（3）采样方法和气溶胶特性；（4）流行病学。研讨会上展示的信息产生了关于铍暴露与CBD关系的六个基本假设。这六个与铍的形态、颗粒大小、工业卫生实践、肺外暴露途径和遗传易感性等问题相关的假设，似乎也是当前及未来可能的研究计划的重点。本文总结了会议上的发言内容及产生的假设。预计对这些问题的理解应能解释在暴露与CBD之间观察到的剂量反应关系不一致的现象。预计正在进行和计划开展的研究将在两到三年内提供足够的数据，以针对铍的不同化学形式制定一个或多个科学合理的TLV。
