title: Solubility and chemistry of materials encountered by beryllium mine and ore extraction workers: relation to risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Beryllium mine and ore extraction mill workers have low rates of beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease relative to the level of beryllium exposure. The objective was to relate these rates to the solubility and composition of the mine and mill materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical surveillance and exposure data were summarized. Dissolution of BeO, ore materials and beryllium hydroxide, Be(OH)(2) was measured in synthetic lung fluid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ore materials were more soluble than BeO at pH 7.2 and similar at pH 4.5. Be(OH)(2) was more soluble than BeO at both pH. Aluminum dissolved along with beryllium from ore materials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher solubility of beryllium ore materials and Be(OH)(2) at pH 7.2 might shorten particle longevity in the lung. The aluminum content of the ore materials might inhibit the cellular immune response to beryllium.
authors.affiliation: Materion Brush Inc, Elmore, Ohio 43543, USA. david.deubner@materion.com
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Deubner
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabey
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rudd
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Storrs
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001608:Beryllium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008906:Mining; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; C411138:beryl; C032777:beryllium oxide; C042156:beryllium hydroxide; D001608:Beryllium