Chronic beryllium disease : an unexpected occupational hazard for a jeweller

Beryllium is used widely in industry due to its favourable elemental properties. Its extraction and subsequent incorporation
\ninto alloys and composites generate hazardous fumes and dust. Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is an occupational
\ninterstitial lung disease that clinically resembles sarcoidosis. We present a case of a 33-year-old jeweller who developed
\nCBD from exposure to dust while grinding unfinished gemstones. While workplace protection exists for beryllium workers,
\nthe health risks in artisans are unrecognised. Most cases are diagnosed in industries primarily involved in the use of
\nberyllium (Table I); however, in our case the exposure to beryllium was unexpected. Lymphocyte proliferation testing for
\nberyllium is a key investigation in patients with suspected CBD. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of CBD
\ndiagnosed in a jeweller in South Africa.