Workers at Uranium Enrichment Plant Exposed to Beryllium

March 21, 2003 — Forty-four workers at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky have tested positive for reactions to beryllium, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (Lexington Herald Leader, March 10, 2003). The Paducah plant provides enriched uranium for nuclear power plants. It is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and operated by the United States Enrichment Corporation.

Among 995 workers tested from November 2001 through February 2003, five had developed chronic beryllium disease, a painful scarring of the lungs caused by beryllium exposure. Thirty–nine workers showed “beryllium sensitization,” which is an allergic response to beryllium that is often the precursor to chronic beryllium disease.

More workers are being screened for beryllium exposure using a blood test known as the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test. The test indicates how disease–fighting cells called lymphocytes react to beryllium. If these cells react strongly, then the individual has become sensitive to beryllium and can expect future health problems.

A History of Environmental Problems at Paducah

In late 2000, the DOE said that it discovered documents showing that beryllium had been used in assembling nuclear weapons. It was at this time that it began testing the Paducah workers for beryllium exposure. The year before, the agency admitted that radioactive materials such as plutonium had leaked into the ground around the Paducah plant. Radioactive materials were also present throughout the plant facilities. In addition, toxic solvents had contaminated about 10 billion gallons of groundwater beneath the plant.

Brayton Purcell has extensive experience helping those exposed to beryllium and other toxic substances. If you have been exposed to beryllium and diagnosed with chronic beryllium disease, please feel free to contact us to learn about your legal options.