Immunological characterisation of groups of people exposed to beryllium as a result of burning coal with high contents of this toxin

An epidemological study was made of persons occupationally (39) and non-occupationally (34) exposed to relatively low concentrations of beryllium in air as a result of coal combustion. Beryllium concentrations in the workplace were between 30 and 800x10-5 mg.m-3, and in the town of Sokolov 1.68-0.39x10-5 mg.m-3. Radial immunodiffusion was used to determine main immunoglobulin classes, and the passive haemagglutination reaction used to determine antibodies (lungs, heart, liver, spleen, thyroid) and antibodies to nuclear (ANA) and mitochondrial (AMA) antigens in intact rat lungs and rats with experimental berylliosis. In both exposed groups significant increase in IgG and IgA and autoantibodies was found compared with controls (60). Specific AMA and ANA were found in exposed groups (higher values in women). (UK)