Release of beryllium from mineral ores in artificial lung and skin surface fluids

Exposure to some manufactured beryllium compounds via skin contact or inhalation can cause sensitization. A portion of sensitized persons who inhale beryllium may develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Little is understood about exposures to naturally occurring beryllium minerals. The purpose of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 313 - 322
Main Authors: Duling, Matthew G., Stefaniak, Aleksandr B., Lawrence, Robert B., Chipera, Steve J., Abbas Virji, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2012
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
analysis
Beryllium
Beryllium - analysis
Beryllium - metabolism
Beryllium - toxicity
bioavailability
breathing
chalk
chemistry
detection limit
drug effects
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Geochemistry
Health risk assessment
Human exposure
Humans
Inhalation
Inhalation Exposure
Lung
Lung - chemistry
Lung - drug effects
Lung - metabolism
Lungs
macrophages
metabolism
mice
Minerals
Mining
Occupational Exposure
Original Paper
people
Phagosomes
Phagosomes - chemistry
Phagosomes - drug effects
Phagosomes - metabolism
Public Health
Pulmonary Alveoli
Pulmonary Alveoli - chemistry
Silicates
Silicates - chemistry
Silicates - metabolism
Silicates - toxicity
Skin
Soil Science & Conservation
sweat
Sweat - chemistry
Sweat - drug effects
Sweat - metabolism
Terrestrial Pollution
toxicity
Utah
X-Ray Diffraction
Utah
Bioaccessibility
Sensitization
Exposure
Minerals
Chronic beryllium disease
Beryllium
ISSN:0269-4042, 1573-2983, 1573-2983
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Summary:Exposure to some manufactured beryllium compounds via skin contact or inhalation can cause sensitization. A portion of sensitized persons who inhale beryllium may develop chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Little is understood about exposures to naturally occurring beryllium minerals. The purpose of this study was to assess the bioaccessibility of beryllium from bertrandite ore. Dissolution of bertrandite from two mine pits (Monitor and Blue Chalk) was evaluated for both the dermal and inhalation exposure pathways by determining bioaccessibility in artificial sweat (pH 5.3 and pH 6.5), airway lining fluid (SUF, pH 7.3), and alveolar macrophage phagolysosomal fluid (PSF, pH 4.5). Significantly more beryllium was released from Monitor pit ore than Blue Chalk pit ore in artificial sweat buffered to pH 5.3 (0.88 ± 0.01% vs. 0.36 ± 0.00%) and pH 6.5 (0.09 ± 0.00% vs. 0.03 ± 0.01%). Rates of beryllium released from the ores in artificial sweat were faster than previously measured for manufactured forms of beryllium (e.g., beryllium oxide), known to induce sensitization in mice. In SUF, levels of beryllium were below the analytical limit of detection. In PSF, beryllium dissolution was biphasic (initial rapid diffusion followed by latter slower surface reactions). During the latter phase, dissolution half-times were 1,400 to 2,000 days, and rate constants were ~7 × 10 −10  g/(cm 2 ·day), indicating that bertrandite is persistent in the lung. These data indicate that it is prudent to control skin and inhalation exposures to bertrandite dusts.
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ISSN:0269-4042
1573-2983
1573-2983
DOI:10.1007/s10653-011-9421-3