American journal of industrial medicine
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Chronic beryllium disease (CBD), which primarily affects the lungs, occurs in sensitized beryllium-exposed individuals. At a copper-beryllium alloy strip and wire finishing facility we performed a cross-sectional survey to examine prevalences of beryllium sensitization and CBD, and relationships between sensitization and CBD and work areas/processes. ⋯ Sensitization and CBD were associated with an area in which beryllium air levels exceeded 0.2 microg/m3, and not with areas where this level was rarely exceeded. Employees at this copper-beryllium alloy facility had similar prevalences of sensitization and CBD as workers at facilities with higher beryllium air levels.