title: Beryllium in exhaled breath condensate as a biomarker of occupational exposure in a primary aluminum production plant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low beryllium exposure can induce pulmonary granulomatosis, so called berylliosis. For occupational health monitoring, it is more relevant to assess the internal dose of Be received by the lungs than urinary or atmospheric Be. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a matrix collected non-invasively that derives from the airway lining fluid. EBC beryllium (Be) levels were evaluated as a marker of occupational exposure in a primary aluminum production plant.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected urine and EBC from controls and workers recently exposed to beryllium in the pot room and the anode repair sectors, and calculated a cumulative beryllium exposure index (CBEI) summing the number of years of employment in each task and multiplying by the estimated average beryllium exposure for the task. Concentrations of beryllium and aluminum were measured in EBC (Be-EBC and Al-EBC) and in urine (Be-U and Al-U) by ICP-MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have shown that it was possible to measure Be and Al in workers' EBC. Compared with controls and after adjustment for smoking status, levels of Be-EBC and Al-EBC were higher in pot room workers and exposed subjects, respectively. Due to its relationship with CBEI, but not with Be-U, it appears that Be-EBC could be a promising marker of occupational exposure and provide additional toxicokinetic information in occupational health studies.
authors: Université de Lille: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille 2, EA 4483: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille: 2, avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: sebastien.hulo@univ-lille2.fr.
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Hulo
authors: Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité: Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, F-54 519 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France. Electronic address: anca.radauceanu@inrs.fr.
authors: Anca
authors: A
authors: Radauceanu
authors: Université de Lille: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille 2, EA 4483: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille: 2, avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: nathalie.cherot@univ-lille2.fr.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Chérot-Kornobis
authors: Centre Universitaire de Mesure et d'Analyse, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2: 3, rue du Professeur Laguesse, BP 83, F-59 006 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: michael.howsam@univ-lille2.fr.
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Howsam
authors: Ultra Trace Analyse Aquitaine: Technopole Hélioparc, 2 avenue Pierre Angot, F-64 053 Pau Cedex 9, France. Electronic address: veronique.vacchina@univ-pau.fr.
authors: Véronique
authors: V
authors: Vacchina
authors: Université de Lille: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille 2, EA 4483: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille: 2, avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: virginie.debroucker@chru-lille.fr.
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: De Broucker
authors: Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité: Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, F-54 519 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France. Electronic address: davy.rousset@inrs.fr.
authors: Davy
authors: D
authors: Rousset
authors: Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité: Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, F-54 519 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France. Electronic address: michel.grzebyk@inrs.fr.
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Grzebyk
authors: Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité: Rue du Morvan, CS 60027, F-54 519 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France. Electronic address: mathieu.dziurla@inrs.fr.
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Dziurla
authors: Université de Lille: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille 2, EA 4483: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille: 2, avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: annie.sobaszek@univ-lille2.fr.
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Sobaszek
authors: Université de Lille: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille 2, EA 4483: 1, place de Verdun, F-59 000 Lille, France; Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Lille: 2, avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: jledme@univ-lille2.fr.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Edme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000378:metabolism; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001608:Beryllium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests; D004651:Employment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014937:Work
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000535:Aluminum; D001608:Beryllium
keywords: Beryllium; Biomonitoring; Exhaled breath condensate; Lung internal dose; Occupational exposure assessment