Lab Workers Show Signs of Lung Disease

CHICAGO —  Tests show seven current or former workers at Argonne National Laboratory have blood abnormalities caused by exposure to the toxic metal beryllium, the first such cases discovered at the lab.

Two other employees who worked in nuclear weapons development at the lab show signs of potentially fatal chronic beryllium disease, but their initial blood tests were negative, officials said Tuesday.

The nine employees have been referred to medical specialists to determine whether they have the incurable lung illness that has killed several workers in the nuclear industry.

“Years ago the department did not know that exposure to beryllium would cause disease,” said Brian Quirke, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Energy, which owns Argonne. “We are sorry that these employees’ work caused them harm.”

The tests show sensitization to beryllium, indicating antibodies are fighting the metal’s presence in the lungs, Quirke said. They do not verify the disease’s progression. Fewer than 5% of people exposed to beryllium show any ill effects.

The facility in suburban Chicago does research in high-energy physics, chemistry and materials science. The metal--toxic when breathed as dust or vapor--was used to deflect neutrons in test reactors and as an alloy for crucibles because of its high melting temperature.

The medical cases were discovered during recent testing by the Energy Department, which was conducting a congressionally mandated nationwide screening program of potential beryllium victims.

Nationally, Energy Department screenings of nuclear workers have found 546 out of 27,835 whose blood shows a reaction to beryllium in the lungs. Of those, 183 have developed beryllium disease.