CBD occurs in individuals who have become “allergic” or sensitized to beryllium upon exposure. Although current DOE medical surveillance programs are identifying more people who are only sensitized and not sick with CBD, many individuals already have CBD by the time they are evaluated for beryllium sensitization or lung symptoms.

CBD can take many years to develop.

The average time from first beryllium exposure to the development of symptoms (latency period) of CBD is 10 to 15 years. This means you can be exposed to beryllium today and not suffer any health effects for decades. Health effects have appeared in some people a few months after exposure, but not for as long as 30 years in others.

Doctors and researchers believe that some individuals who have had CBD lived with the disease and died from other causes without even knowing they had CBD.

CBD symptoms resemble those of other lung diseases.

The symptoms of CBD are very similar to those of several other diseases, particularly a disease called sarcoidosis that affects the lungs and sometimes other organs. Studies have found that in some cases doctors have diagnosed what turned out to be CBD as sarcoidosis or another disease.

Symptoms of CBD may include the following:

1. Persistent coughing

2. Shortness of breath with physical exertion

3. Fatigue

4. Chest and joint pain

5. Blood in the sputum (sputum is saliva, mucus, and other discharges that can be “coughed up” from the respiratory system)

6. Rapid heart rate

7. Loss of appetite

8. Fevers and night sweats