[CPEO-MEF] BERYLLIUM: Hanford (WA) workers

[Lenny Siegel <lennysiegel@gmail.com>]

Board wants more Hanford workers tested for beryllium

Annette Cary, Herald staff writer
Tacoma News Tribune (WA)
April 7, 2009

PORTLAND -- Not enough Hanford workers are being tested to prevent 
health problems caused by exposure to beryllium, according to the 
Hanford Advisory Board.

"From a worker safety perspective based on the number of affected 
workers, beryllium currently rates as a greater hazard than radiation," 
the board said.

It offered advice to the Department of Energy on better protection of 
Hanford workers who might be exposed to the metal and on more support 
for affected workers at its Portland meeting Thursday and Friday.

Workers with an allergy-like sensitivity to beryllium are at risk of 
developing an incurable lung disease called chronic beryllium disease 
and also have an increased risk of lung cancer if exposed to fine 
particles of the metal, the board said. Beryllium was used at Hanford in 
the production of fuel for reactors, among other uses, and particles 
remain in the dust in some buildings.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/700501.html

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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