[Immunological study of beryllium workers]

Abstract

Immunological health surveys of Beryllium (Be) workers in a copper-beryllium casting factory were made 10 times during the 5-year period from 1981 to 1985. The total number of Be workers was 150. 1) Macrophage migration inhibition test was performed by an agarose plate method using Be as antigen with peritoneal cells from guinea pigs and small amounts of Be worker's blood. We found that 1 out of 22 healthy Be workers (4.5%) that migration index (MI) was below 80% after 24 h and 5 (22.7%) after 48 h. The mean of MI in Be workers showed significant low value as compared with that of the control group (p less than 0.01). 2) It was found that the serum complement titer tended to be lower in Be workers than in the control group. The serum complement titer of 3 to 6 subjects showed to be less than 30 U/ml every survey. 3) Although a few showed the abnormal levels in serum immunoglobin (IgG, IgA and IgE), the means of these immunoglobin levels were not markedly changed and they were in the normal ranges, respectively. 4) MI values significantly correlated with IgE level in Be workers, that is y= -8.9 x + 997.8 (r = -0.473, p less than 0.05). These results suggest that macrophage migration inhibition test and serum complement titer were of value for assaying of sensitivity to Be and immune responses in Be workers.