Mortality Among Individuals Diagnosed With Chronic Beryllium Disease and Beryllium Sensitization

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the cause of death among individuals diagnosed with chronic beryllium disease (CBD) or beryllium sensitization (BeS). Methods: Vital status, cause of death, and standardized mortality ratios for the underlying cause of death were determined for a cohort of 354 individuals with CBD and 290 individuals with BeS. Results: Among 216 deceased individuals, 153 had CBD and 63 had BeS. Nonmalignant respiratory deaths and other causes of death were significantly increased among those with CBD. No cause of death was significantly increased for BeS. Mortality from lung cancer was not increased. Conclusions: Individuals with CBD had an overall increased mortality risk due to increased respiratory mortality regardless of their duration of exposure to beryllium. Individuals with BeS did not have increased respiratory mortality. No increased risk of lung cancer was seen among this cohort.