|
This past June our Local held a provincial forum on Beryllium related diseases. This event attracted over 80 participants from government, occupational health, industrial hygiene, mining, foundry, and manufacturing. Participants came from as far away as Manitoba and British Columbia to learn about the health risks associated with Beryllium alloys.
To ensure this forum was informative, our Local managed to attract Peg Mroz and Heather Davis from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center of Denver Colorado to be the events keynote speakers. National Jewish Medical is one of the leading researchers in the U.S for lung, allergic, immune related diseases, and conduct extensive research and advanced treatment for people around the world with Beryllium related diseases.
The participants were told that an estimated 1 million workers in the U.S are exposed to beryllium-enriched materials with many other known workplace exposures in Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. Recently, the Quebec government has conducted a provincial survey. This survey revealed that over 2000 businesses in Quebec had the potential of having Beryllium enriched material in their processes.
Workplace exposure to even very small amounts of Beryllium dust can lead to a host of serious diseases including Beryllium Sensitization, Chronic Beryllium Disease, skin disease, and even cancer. Beryllium dust is most toxic when it is inhaled into the lungs. These small particles go deep in the lungs where they can remain forever, as these dust particles are not water-soluble. In some cases, it has taken up to 30 years for the body to react to these particles, which can result in Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD).
The National Jewish Medical and Research Center (NJM) continues to provide workers and employers from around the world with early diagnosis and treatment
|
|
