Beryllium in exhaled breath condensate as a biomarker of occupational exposure in a primary aluminum production plant

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. 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. 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.