Symptoms
Chronic beryllium disease causes fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, and a persistent dry cough. (L24, L25)
Treatment
Chronic beryllium disease is treated with immunosuppressive medicines, usually of the glucocorticoid class. (L24)
Health Effects
Acute inhalation of a high level of beryllium can result in a pneumonia-like condition called acute beryllium disease. Chronic inhalation of beryllium can cause an inflammatory reaction in the respiratory system called chronic beryllium disease. Chronic beryllium disease may result in anorexia and weight loss, as well as right side heart enlargement and heart disease in advanced cases. Chronic exposure can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Skin contact with beryllium results in contact dermatitus. (L24, L25)
Exposure Routes
Inhalation (L24)
Toxicity Summary
Once in the body, beryllium acts as a hapten and interacts with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DP presenting cells in the lungs, becoming physically associated with a major histocompatability (MHC) class II molecule. This MHC class II-beryllium-peptide complex is recognized by the T lymphocyte receptor, triggering CD4+ T lymphocyte activation and proliferation. The resulting inflammatory response is a cell-mediated process orchestrated by cytokines and results in the formation of (usually pulmonary) granulomas. Beryllium's toxicity may be controlled by the iron-storage protein ferritin, which sequesters beryllium by binding it and preventing it from interacting with other enzymes. (L25, A37, A91)
Minimum Risk Level
Chronic Oral: 0.002 mg/kg/day (L134)
Carcinogen Classification
1, carcinogenic to humans. (L135)