Retrospective Beryllium Exposure Assessment at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site

• Published in: American Industrial Hygiene Association journal 1996-09, Vol.57 (9), p.804-808
• Main Authors: Barnard, Anthony E., Torma-Krajewski, Janet, Viet, Susan M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Berylliosis - etiology; Beryllium; Beryllium - analysis; beryllium exposure; Bias; chronic beryllium disease; Chronic illnesses; Colorado; Datasets; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Monitoring - standards; Exact sciences and technology; fixed airhead sampling; Hazardous materials; Humans; Indoor air quality; Indoor pollution and occupational exposure; Occupational safety; personal breathing zone sampling; Pollution; Population Surveillance; Radioactive materials; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Sampling techniques; Statistical analysis; Studies; Ventilation
• ISSN: 0002-8894; 2163-369X
• DOI: 10.1080/15428119691014477

The purpose of this study was to determine how two types of sampling data could be used for an exposure assessment in a beryllium shop at the Department of Energy's Rocky Flats Plant. Beryllium exposure was assessed via fixed airhead (FAH) sampling, in which the filter cassette was affixed to the machine, generally within a few feet of the worker's breathing zone. Approximately 500,000 FAH samples were collected for beryllium over three decades at the site. From 1984 to 1987, personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples also were collected as part of the evaluation of a new high velocity/low volume local exhaust ventilation system in the beryllium shop. FAH data indicated that four statistically different exposure periods existed from 1970 to 1988, as the FAH annual arithmetic means varied with changes in the local exhaust ventilation system and production levels. A matched comparison between the FAH and PBZ sample data found no direct linear correlation (R 2 =0.014); however, the mean PBZ results were higher than the mean FAH results (p=0.0001). The mean PBZ level was 1.04 µg/m 3 while the FAH average was 0.16 µg/m 3 (permissible exposure limit for beryllium: 2 µg/m 3 ). A health surveillance program to identify cases of chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and beryllium sensitization has been implemented at Rocky Flats. To date, 53 cases of CBD and 86 cases of sensitivity to beryllium have been diagnosed. Continuing studies are evaluating semiquantitative dose response relationships for CBD using the exposure data discussed herein.