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Posted Date: 2015-08-07T04:00Z

IPCS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

    Health and Safety Guide No. 44

    BERYLLIUM

    HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDE

    UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

    INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION

    WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

    WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, GENEVA 1990

    This is a companion volume to Environmental Health Criteria 106:

    Beryllium

    Published by the World Health Organization for the International

    Programme on Chemical Safety (a collaborative programme of the
United

    Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour
Organisation,

    and the World Health Organization)

    This report contains the collective views of an international group
of

    experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the
stated

    policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the
International

    Labour Organisation, or the World Health Organization

    WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

    Beryllium : health and safety guide.

    (Health and safety guide ; no. 44)

    1. Beryllium - standards  I. Series

    ISBN 92 4 151044 7          (NLM Classification: QV 275)

    ISSN 0259-7268

    (c) World Health Organization 1990

    Publications of the World Health Organization enjoy copyright

    protection in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 2 of the

    Universal Copyright Convention.  For rights of reproduction or

    translation of WHO publications, in part or  in toto, application

    should be made to the Office of Publications, World Health

    Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.  The World Health Organization

    welcomes such applications.

    The designations employed and the presentation of the material in
this

    publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on

    the part of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization

    concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area
or

    of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers
or

    boundaries.

    The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers'

    products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the

    World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar
nature

    that are not mentioned.  Errors and omissions excepted, the names of

    proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.

    CONTENTS

    INTRODUCTION

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:1#PartNumber:1"  1. PRODUCT IDENTITY AND USES 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:1.1#SectionNumber:1.1"  1.1. Identity 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:1.2#SectionNumber:1.2"  1.2. Physical and chemical
properties 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:1.3#SectionNumber:1.3"  1.3. Composition 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:1.4#SectionNumber:1.4"  1.4. Production and uses 

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:2#PartNumber:2"  2. SUMMARY AND EVALUATION 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:2.1#SectionNumber:2.1"  2.1. Human exposure 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:2.2#SectionNumber:2.2"  2.2. Uptake, metabolism, and
excretion 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:2.3#SectionNumber:2.3"  2.3. Effects on organisms in the
environment 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:2.4#SectionNumber:2.4"  2.4. Effects on animals 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:2.5#SectionNumber:2.5"  2.5. Effects on human beings 

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:3#PartNumber:3"  3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:3.1#SectionNumber:3.1"  3.1. Acute beryllium disease 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:3.2#SectionNumber:3.2"  3.2. Chronic beryllium disease 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:3.3#SectionNumber:3.3"  3.3. Cancer 

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:4#PartNumber:4"  4. HUMAN HEALTH HAZARDS, PREVENTION AND
PROTECTION, EMERGENCY ACTION 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:4.1#SectionNumber:4.1"  4.1. Main human health hazards,
prevention and protection, 

              first aid

                HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SubSectionNumber:4.1.1#SubSectionNumber:4.1.1"  4.1.1. Advice to
physicians 

                HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SubSectionNumber:4.1.2#SubSectionNumber:4.1.2"  4.1.2. Health
surveillance advice 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:4.2#SectionNumber:4.2"  4.2. Explosion and fire hazards 

                HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SubSectionNumber:4.2.1#SubSectionNumber:4.2.1"  4.2.1. Explosion
hazards 

                HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SubSectionNumber:4.2.2#SubSectionNumber:4.2.2"  4.2.2. Fire hazards 

                HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SubSectionNumber:4.2.3#SubSectionNumber:4.2.3"  4.2.3. Prevention 

                HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SubSectionNumber:4.2.4#SubSectionNumber:4.2.4"  4.2.4.
Fire-extinguishing agents 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:4.3#SectionNumber:4.3"  4.3. Storage 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:4.4#SectionNumber:4.4"  4.4. Transport 

           HYPERLINK
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"SectionNumber:4.5#SectionNumber:4.5"  4.5. Spillage 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:4.6#SectionNumber:4.6"  4.6. Disposal 

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:5#PartNumber:5"  5. HAZARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR
PREVENTION 

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:6#PartNumber:6"  6. SUMMARY OF CHEMICAL SAFETY INFORMATION 

      HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"PartNumber:7#PartNumber:7"  7. CURRENT REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
STANDARDS 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:7.1#SectionNumber:7.1"  7.1. Exposure limit values 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:7.2#SectionNumber:7.2"  7.2. Specific restrictions 

           HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg044.htm" \l
"SectionNumber:7.3#SectionNumber:7.3"  7.3. Labelling, packaging, and
transport 

    BIBLIOGRAPHY

    

    INTRODUCTION

    The Environmental Health Criteria (EHC) documents produced by the

    International Programme on Chemical Safety include an assessment of

    the effects on the environment and on human health of exposure to a

    chemical or combination of chemicals, or physical or biological

    agents.  They also provide guidelines for setting exposure limits.

    The purpose of a Health and Safety Guide is to facilitate the

    application of these guidelines in national chemical safety

    programmes. The first three sections of a Health and Safety Guide

    highlight the relevant technical information in the corresponding
EHC. 

    Section 4 includes advice on preventive and protective measures and

    emergency action; health workers should be thoroughly  familiar with

    the medical information to ensure that they can act efficiently in
an

    emergency.  Within the Guide is a Summary of Chemical Safety

    Information which should be readily available, and should be clearly

    explained, to all who could come into contact with the chemical. 
The

    section on regulatory information has been extracted from the legal

    file of the International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals

    (IRPTC) and from other United Nations sources.

    The target readership includes occupational health services, those
in

    ministries, governmental agencies, industry, and trade unions who
are

    involved in the safe use of chemicals and the avoidance of

    environmental health hazards, and those wanting more information on

    this topic.  An attempt has been made to use only terms that will be

    familiar to the intended user.  However, sections 1 and 2 inevitably

    contain some technical terms.  A bibliography has been included for

    readers who require further background information.

    Revision of the information in this Guide will take place in due

    course, and the eventual aim is to use standardized terminology. 

    Comments on any difficulties encountered in using the Guide would be

    very helpful and should be addressed to:

    The Manager

    International Programme on Chemical Safety

    Division of Environmental Health

    World Health Organization

    1211 Geneva 27

    Switzerland

    THE INFORMATION IN THIS GUIDE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A STARTING
POINT

    TO A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMME

    1.  PRODUCT IDENTITY AND USES

    1.1  Identity

    Common name:             beryllium

    Chemical formula:        Be

    CAS registry number:     7440-41-7

    Common synonyms:         glycinium; glucinum

    1.2  Physical and Chemical Properties

    Beryllium is a light, brittle, steel-grey metal that is stable to
heat

    and also chemically stable.  It has a very low density and a very
high

    melting point.  The specific heat, heat of fusion, sound
conductance,

    and strength-to-weight ratio are also high.  Beryllium powder is

    explosive and flammable.

    1.3  Composition

    Beryllium metal, the oxide (beryllia), and various alloys,

    particularly the beryllium-copper alloy, are all of commercial

    importance.  Most beryllium alloys contain up to 3% beryllium. 

    Beryllia is produced at temperatures ranging from about 500 °C to

    1500 °C, and there is ample evidence that the toxicity, and perhaps

    the carcinogenicity, of beryllium oxide depend on the firing

    temperature.

    1.4  Production and Uses

    Beryl and bertrandite are the only beryllium minerals that are of

    economic significance.  Production takes place only in Japan, the
USA,

    and the USSR.  In other countries, the imported pure metal, alloys,
or

    ceramic beryllium oxide are processed to end products.  World

    production of beryllium is estimated to be of the order of 400
tonnes

    per year.

    Beryllium is mainly used in the form of beryllium-copper and other

    alloys in the aerospace, electronic, and mechanical industries for
the

    production of, e.g., aircraft engine parts, electric contacts and

    switches, springs, non-sparking tools, and welding electrodes.  Pure

    beryllium metal is used in the aerospace, weapon, and nuclear

    industries.  Applications include special structural materials,

    aircraft brakes, heat shields, missile and nuclear reactor
components,

    and X-ray windows.  Beryllium powder is also used as a solid rocket

    propellant.  Beryllium oxide has many ceramic applications in

    electronics and microelectronics. 

    2.  SUMMARY AND EVALUATION

    2.1  Human Exposure

    The increasing high-technology application of beryllium is
paralleled

    by an increase in potential human exposure to beryllium metal,

    beryllium oxide, and beryllium-containing alloys.  However,
providing

    that control measures in the beryllium industry are adequate, the

    general population is mainly exposed to airborne beryllium from the

    combustion of fossil fuel at levels that are usually low.  Where

    beryllium-containing casting alloys are used for dental prostheses,

    skin contact must be considered.

    Exposure in the work-place is through inhalation and contamination
of

    the skin.  While exposure to high beryllium concentrations causing

    acute effects may occur, standards established by various countries

    (see section 7) have drastically reduced concentrations of beryllium

    in the work-place.  However, these values are not being achieved

    everywhere.

    2.2  Uptake, Metabolism, and Excretion

    In animals, inhaled beryllium is retained in the lung and slowly

    absorbed into the blood.  A significant part of the inhaled dose is

    incorporated into the skeleton, which is the ultimate site of

    beryllium storage.

    A considerable proportion of absorbed beryllium is rapidly excreted,

    mainly in the urine.  Part of the beryllium that is inhaled is

    eliminated in the faeces, probably as a result of clearance from the

    respiratory tract and ingestion of swallowed beryllium.

    Because of the long storage of beryllium in the skeleton and in the

    lungs, its biological half-life is extremely long.  In the human

    skeleton, it has been calculated to be 450 days.

    2.3  Effects on Organisms in the Environment

    Data concerning the fate of beryllium in the environment, including

    its effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms, are limited. 

    Beryllium levels in surface waters (µg/litre range) and soils
(mg/kg

    dry weight range) are usually low and probably do not negatively

    affect the environment.

    2.4  Effects on Animals

    Implantation of beryllium compounds and metallic beryllium in the

    subcutaneous tissues may produce granulomas similar to those
observed

    in human beings.  Guinea-pigs develop cutaneous hypersensitivity on

    intradermal injection of soluble beryllium compounds.

    Various animal species develop acute chemical pneumonitis following

    the inhalation of beryllium metal or different beryllium compounds. 

    Long-term, low-level exposure results in chronic pneumonitis

    associated with granulomata.  This response only partly corresponds
to

    the chronic disease in human beings.

    The inhalation toxicity of insoluble beryllium oxide depends on its

    physical and chemical properties.  Because the ultimate particle
size

    and the aggregates formed are smaller, "low-fired" (500-750 °C)

    beryllium oxides are toxic, whereas "high-fired" (> 1000 °C)

    beryllium oxides appear to be relatively inert.

    Beryllium metal exposed to the air develops an oxide coating on the

    surface and behaves toxicologically like the low-fired variety. 

    Soluble beryllium compounds precipitate as the hydroxide after

    deposition in the lung.  The ageing of these precipitates also
yields

    a beryllium oxide that toxicologically resembles the low-fired

    variety.

    Beryllium interacts with DNA and causes gene mutations, chromosomal

    aberrations, and sister chromatid exchanges in cultured mammalian

    somatic cells, though it is not mutagenic in bacterial test systems.

    Intravenous and intramedullary injections of beryllium metal and

    various beryllium compounds have produced bone cancer in the rabbit,

    but not in the guinea-pig, rat, or mouse.  Inhalation or
intratracheal

    exposure has induced lung tumours in the rat, but not in the rabbit,

    hamster, or guinea-pig.  Despite some deficiencies in study design
and

    laboratory practice, the carcinogenic activity of beryllium in

    different animals has been confirmed.

    2.5  Effects on Human Beings

    Cases of acute beryllium disease resulting in nasopharyngitis,

    bronchitis, and severe chemical pneumonitis have drastically
decreased

    and, today, may only occur as a consequence of failures in control

    systems.  Chronic beryllium disease differs from the acute form in

    having a latent period ranging from several weeks to more than 20

    years and being of long duration and progressive in severity.  The

    primary effect is on the lung.  Granulomatous inflammation of the
lung

    associated with dyspnoea on exertion, cough, chest pain, weight
loss,

    and general weakness is the typical feature.  Effects on other
organs

    may be secondary rather than systemic.  The great variability in

    latency and the lack of dose-response relationships may be explained

    by immunological sensitization.  The incidence of chronic beryllium

    disease has clearly decreased.  However, this disease may still
occur

    among sensitized individuals who have been exposed to concentrations

    of around 2 µg/m3.

    Depending on individual susceptibility, direct contact with soluble

    beryllium salts can cause delayed (contact) dermatitis, occasionally

    associated with conjunctivitis.  When beryllium compounds are
retained

    in, or beneath, the skin, chronic granulomatous ulcerations develop.

    Several epidemiological studies have provided evidence of an excess

    lung cancer risk from occupational exposure to beryllium.  The

    interpretation of these results has been questioned, but the
available

    data indicate that beryllium is the most likely explanation for the

    excess lung cancer observed in exposed workers.

    3.  CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    The health hazards of beryllium are almost exclusively confined to

    inhalation exposure and skin contact.  Unless beryllium is released

    into the environment accidentally, the general population is exposed

    only to very low levels of airborne beryllium that do not pose a

    health hazard.  Because of the high sensitization and allergenic

    potential of ionic beryllium, the use of beryllium for dental

    prostheses should be reconsidered.

    3.1  Acute Beryllium Disease

    Occupational exposure to beryllium poses a health hazard that may

    result in skin lesions and adverse effects on the respiratory tract.

    Acute beryllium disease can be encountered after exposure to

    relatively high concentrations of beryllium in fumes and dust

    (> 100 µg/m3).  Because control measures have improved, such high

    concentrations are not expected to occur in today's occupational

    settings.

    3.2  Chronic Beryllium Disease

    Hundreds of cases of chronic beryllium disease have been diagnosed
in

    various countries throughout the world.  The vast majority of these

    cases have resulted from previous exposure to high concentrations of

    beryllium during the extraction and smelting of beryllium,
fluorescent

    tube production (no longer a source of beryllium exposure), and

    beryllium metal production.

    More recently, cases of beryllium disease have been diagnosed

    following rather low-level exposures (around 2 µg/m3). The results

    of recent studies suggest that some degree of immunological

    responsiveness to beryllium may be common among workers who have
been

    exposed for more than 10 years.  The present occupational exposure

    standards may not exclude the development of chronic beryllium
disease

    in beryllium-sensitized individuals.

    Whatever their occupation, individuals suspected of having

    sarcoidosis, should be evaluated for immunological sensitivity to

    beryllium, because of possible unawareness of exposure to beryllium.

    3.3  Cancer

    Many studies on experimental animals have provided sufficient
evidence

    that beryllium is carcinogenic.  The available epidemiological data

    indicate that beryllium is the most likely single explanation for
the

    excess lung cancer observed in exposed workers.

    4.  HUMAN HEALTH HAZARDS, PREVENTION AND PROTECTION, EMERGENCY
ACTION

    4.1  Main Human Health Hazards, Prevention and Protection, First Aid

    Inhalation and skin exposure to beryllium and its compounds can be

    extremely hazardous.  When handling the metal, alloy, or components,

    it must be borne in mind that, unless special care has been taken,

    they may be contaminated on the surface with a film of beryllium
oxide

    powder.  The effects of exposure to beryllium, their prevention, and

    first-aid recommendations are given in the Summary of Chemical
Safety

    Information (section 6).

    4.1.1  Advice to physicians

    Irritant and allergic dermatitis may occur as a result of skin

    contact; ulcers and local and distal granulomas may develop
following

    skin implantation, if adequate debridement is not promptly
performed. 

    Accidental over-exposure to fine particulate beryllium, or its

    compounds, may result in acute responses in the upper and lower

    respiratory tract, ranging from a mild inflammation of the nasal

    mucous membranes and pharynx to tracheobronchitis and to severe

    chemical pneumonitis with lung oedema.  Cases with acute respiratory

    symptoms following acute inhalation of the dust should be admitted
to

    hospital for assessment.

    In subjects who become immunologically sensitized, exposure to

    respirable beryllium may produce chronic beryllium disease with a

    latent period of a few weeks to several years.  Granulomatous

    inflammation of the lung associated with dyspnoea on exertion,
cough,

    chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, and general weakness is the
typical

    feature; right heart enlargement, cyanosis, and finger clubbing may

    also occur.  The lung changes are very similar to those that occur
in

    sarcoidosis or other granulomatous diseases.  There is also a
possible

    risk of lung cancer.

    4.1.2  Health surveillance advice

    (a)  A specialist medical examination should be provided to consider

    the fitness of applicants for work that involves exposure to
beryllium

    or its compounds; special conditions of work might be applied to

    individuals.  

    The following points should be considered:

         (i)   Previous or existing lung disease of a recurring or
chronic

               nature;

         (ii)  Ventilatory function;

         (iii) All conditions of an allergic nature;

         (iv)  Skin conditions that do not permit effective cleansing;

    (b)  Workers potentially exposed to beryllium or its compounds
should

    undergo periodic examinations at intervals decided by the doctor.

    Examinations might include:

         (i)   Spirometry, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and

               forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) and peak

               flow measurements;

         (ii)  An appropriate medical history and examination;

         (iii) A chest X-ray taken in accordance with ILO
recommendations

               on technique in radiography for the pneumonoconioses.

    (c)  Regular environmental hygiene monitoring should be undertaken
to

    include, as appropriate, wipe tests, determination of background

    levels, and personal monitoring near the breathing zone.

    4.2  Explosion and Fire Hazards

    4.2.1  Explosion hazards

    Very fine particulate beryllium may be explosive.

    4.2.2  Fire hazards

    On burning, fine particulate beryllium emits bright light and
intense

    heat (4500°C in oxygen).  Beryllium powder reacts with chlorine,

    fluorine, bromine, iodine, or phosphorus to form flammable gases or

    vapours, and with acids to form hazardous gases or vapours.

    4.2.3  Prevention

    Use closed systems, local exhaust ventilation, explosion-protected,

    well-earthed, electrical equipment and lighting.  Prevent beryllium

    dust or powders coming into contact with flames or hot surfaces.

    4.2.4  Fire-extinguishing agents

    Use sand, soda ash, or commercial metal fire extinguishing powder. 
Do

    not use water or carbon dioxide.

    4.3  Storage

    Store fine particulate beryllium and compounds and alloys of
beryllium

    in closed, clearly labelled structures or containers.  Containers

    should be designed and safely handled to prevent accidental
breakage. 

    Access to storage areas should be limited to authorized persons, who

    should be provided with, and trained in the use of, protective

    equipment appropriate to reasonable foreseeable exposures.

    4.4  Transport

    Comply with any local requirements regarding movement of hazardous

    goods.  Check that containers are sound and correctly labelled
before

    dispatch.  In case of accident, stop the engine.  If beryllium
powder

    is released, remove all sources of ignition.  Do not smoke.  Keep

    bystanders at a distance and post hazard signs on the roadway.  Keep

    upwind.  In case of spillage or fire, use the methods advised in

    sections 4.5 and 4.2, respectively.  Notify the police and the fire

    brigade immediately.

    4.5  Spillage

    If beryllium-containing dust, fume, or mist is released or spilt,

    persons not wearing protective equipment should be excluded from the

    danger area.  Remove ignition sources.  Neither dry sweeping nor

    compressed air should be used for cleaning up.  Only a special

    purpose, high-efficiency filter, industrial vacuum cleaner should be

    used in decontamination.

    4.6  Disposal

    Beryllium wastes and scrap should be collected, disposed of in
clearly

    labelled, sealed bags or other closed containers, and either
recycled

    or buried in an approved dump.  Comply with local regulations.

    Beryllium waste should be recycled, whenever possible.  Liquid or

    solid waste with too low a beryllium concentration to warrant
recovery

    should be disposed of in special dumps.  Prior to disposal, the

    beryllium compound involved must be converted into the chemically

    inert, but biologically quite active, oxide.

    Beryllium powder, and beryllium carbonate, chloride, and selenate

    wastes should be converted into inert oxides, using incineration and

    particulate recovery techniques.  If possible, these oxides should
be

    recycled; otherwise, they may be disposed of in a landfill. 

    Beryllium-copper alloys can also be disposed of in a landfill. 

    Soluble beryllium compounds should be converted to the insoluble

    hydroxide before solidification.  Beryllium compounds should not be

    heated to high temperatures, unless the apparatus is equipped with

    absolute filters.

    5.  HAZARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR PREVENTION

    Beryllium does not pose a significant hazard for aquatic and

    terrestrial life, except in cases of accident or inappropriate

    disposal.  Contamination of soil, water, and the atmosphere can be

    avoided by proper methods of storage, transport, and waste disposal.

    6.  SUMMARY OF CHEMICAL SAFETY INFORMATION

     This summary should be easily available to all health workers

     concerned with, and users of, beryllium. It should be displayed at,

     or near, entrances to areas where there is potential exposure to

     beryllium, and on processing equipment and containers.  The summary

     should be translated into the appropriate language(s).  All persons

     potentially exposed to the chemical should also have the
instructions

     in the summary clearly explained.

     Space is available for insertion of the National Occupational

     Exposure Limit, the address and telephone number of the  National

     Poison Control Centre, and for local trade names.

        BERYLLIUM

    (Be) (CAS registry no. 7440-41-7)

                                                                        
                                                                

    PHYSICAL PROPERTIES                                           OTHER
CHARACTERISTICS

                                                                        
                                                                

    Atomic weight                   9.01                          Light,
steel-grey metal; powder is explosive and flammable;  it

    Boiling point (°C)              2970                         
reacts with bromine, chlorine, fluoride, iodine, and phosphorus 

    Melting point (°C)              1278                          to
form flammable compounds, and with acids to form

    Specific density (g/cm3)        1.85 (20°C)                  
hazardous gases or vapours; inhalation and dermal exposure

    Water solubility                insoluble                     to
beryllium, and its compounds and alloys can be highly hazardous 

    Vapour pressure (hPa) (°C)      0 (20); 0.000133 (990)        for
human beings

                                                                        
                                                                

    HAZARDS/SYMPTOMS                        PREVENTION AND PROTECTION   
                FIRST AID

                                                                        
                                                                

    Potential human carcinogen              Prevent dispersion of dust,
fume,

                                            or mist; use engineering
controls,

                                            work practices, and
respiratory

                                            protection to minimize
exposure

    SKIN: Irritation, redness, lesions      Wear clean impervious
protective clothing    Wash skin with soap and plenty of 

    following contact; abscess and          and gloves; do not wear work
clothing        water; remove contaminated clothing;

    ulcers following contamination of       outside the work-place      
                obtain medical attention

    wounds

    EYES: Irritation, redness, pain         Wear face shield or goggles 
                Rinse eyes immediately with water for

                                                                        
                at least 10 minutes; refer to doctor

    INHALATION: Irritation of               Avoid inhalation of dusts,
fumes, or         Remove from contact with beryllium;

    respiratory tract; cough, chest         mists;  use local exhaust
ventilation and,   obtain medical attention

    pain, general weakness, and             in case of insufficient
engineering 

    tiredness;  pneumonitis and lung        controls, wear respirators; 
remove 

    oedema may be fatal                     dust by vacuuming and
water-spraying,

                                            not by dry methods;  prevent
dispersion

                                            of beryllium from clothing

    INGESTION: Unlikely

    occupational hazard

    ENVIRONMENT: May be                     Apply proper methods of
storage, 

    hazardous for aquatic and               transport, handling, and
waste

    terrestral life in case of accident     disposal

    or inappropriate disposal

                                                                        
                                                                

    SPILLAGE                                STORAGE                     
                FIRE AND EXPLOSION

                                                                        
                                                                

    In case of release or spillage of       Store materials that may
release             Very fine dusts or powders of beryllium

    dust, fume, or mist remove ignition     particulate matter in
closed,                may be explosive;  no open fires, no sparks,

    sources; wear protective equipment;     well-labelled buildings or
containers;       no smoking;  use closed systems, ventilation,

    avoid dry sweeping or compressed        prevent breakage of
containers; only         explosion-protected, electrical equipment;

    air for cleaning up; use only a         authorized personnel should
have             make connections to earth;  use sand,

    specific-purpose, high-efficiency,      access to storage areas     
                soda ash, or commercial metal 

    filtered, industrial vacuum cleaner                                 
                fire-extinguishing powder;  do not use water 

                                                                        
                or carbon dioxide

                                                                        
                                                                

    WASTE DISPOSAL                          NATIONAL INFORMATION

                                                                        
                                                                

    Dispose of in clearly labelled sealed   National occupational
exposure limit:        United Nations No.: 1567

    bags or other closed containers; 

    recycle or bury in approved dump;

    comply with local regulations

                                            National Poison Control
Centre:              Labelling:

                                                                        
                                                                

    

    7.  CURRENT REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND STANDARDS

    The information given in this section has been extracted from the

    International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC) legal

    file. A full reference to the original national document from which

    the information was extracted can be obtained from IRPTC.  When no

    effective date appears in the IRPTC legal file, the year of the

    reference from which the data are taken is indicated by (r).

    The reader should be aware that regulatory decisions about
chemicals,

    taken in a certain country, can only be fully understood in the

    framework of the legislation of that country.  Furthermore, the

    regulations and guidelines of all countries are subject to change
and

    should always be verified with appropriate regulatory authorities

    before application.

    7.1  Exposure Limit Values

    Some exposure limit values are given in the table on pp. 24-28.

    7.2  Specific Restrictions

    In the Federal Republic of Germany, security measures are required
in

    specified industrial plants and factories to prevent, or to limit,
the

    effects of incidents in which beryllium could be released, produced,

    catch fire, or explode, and cause a public danger.

    In the United Kingdom, atmospheric emissions from factories
producing,

    treating, or processing beryllium or its compounds are controlled. 

    The responsible person must use the best practicable means to
prevent

    emission of fumes or dusts into the atmosphere, and to render
harmless

    and inoffensive any emissions.

    The European Economic Community (EEC) requires member states to
limit

    the introduction of beryllium and its compounds into ground water by

    controlling all direct and indirect discharges.  The USA classifies

    beryllium and its compounds as toxic pollutants for water, for which

    the US EPA sets industrial effluent limitation and pretreatment

    standards and requires permits for discharge from any point source

    into water.

        EXPOSURE LIMIT VALUES

                                                                        
                                                               

    Medium      Specification       Country/            Exposure limit
descriptiona                  Value                Effective

                                    organization                        
                                                 date

                                                                        
                                                               

    AIR         Work-place          Argentina           Maximum
permissible concentration (MPC)                           1979

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                                        - Short-term
exposure limit (STEL)           0.0025 mg/m3

                                    Austria             Threshold limit
value (TLV)                  0.002 mg/m3          1985 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)

                                    Belgium             Threshold limit
value (TLV)                                       1987 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                                                        
                            (carcinogen)

                                    Bulgaria            Maximum
permissible concentration (MPC)      0.001 mg/m3          1985 (r)

                                    Canada              Threshold limit
value (TLV)                                       1980

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                                                        
                            (suspected

                                                                        
                            carcinogen)

                                    Czechoslovakia      Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)                             1985

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.001 mg/m3

                                                        - Ceiling value
(CLV)                        0.002 mg/m3

                                    Finland             Maximum
permissible concentration (MPC)                           1985 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                    German              Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)                             1985 (r)

                                    Democratic          - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                    Republic            - Short-term
exposure limit (STEL)           0.002 mg/m3

                                                                        
                                                                

    Medium      Specification       Country/            Exposure limit
description                   Value                Effective

                                    organization                        
                                                 date

                                                                        
                                                                

    AIR         Work-place          Germany,            Technical
reference concentration (TRK)                           1982 (r)

                                    Federal             - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.005 mg/m3

                                    Republic of                         
                            (grinding

                                                        Carcinogen (no
MAK value established)        activities)

                                                                        
                            0.002 mg/m3

                                                                        
                            (all other

                                                                        
                            activities)

                                    Hungary             Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)                             1985 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.001 mg/m3

                                                        - Short-term
exposure limit (STEL)           0.001 mg/m3

                                                          (30 min)

                                    Italy               Threshold limit
value (TLV)                  0.002 mg/m3          1985 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                (provisional

                                                                        
                            carcinogen)

                                    Japan               Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)                             1986 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                                                        
                            (probable

                                                                        
                            carcinogen)

                                    Netherlands         Maximum limit
(MXL)                                               1987 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                    Poland              Maximum
permissible concentration (MPC)                           1985 (r)

                                                        - Ceiling value
(CLV)                        0.001 mg/m3

                                    Romania             Maximum
permissible concentration (MPC)                           1985 (r)

                                                        - Ceiling value
(CLV)                        0.001 mg/m3

                                    Sweden              Hygienic limit
value (HLV)                                        1988

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                                         (1 day)        
                            (carcinogen)

                                                                        
                                                                

    Medium      Specification       Country/            Exposure limit
description                   Value                Effective

                                    organization                        
                                                 date

                                                                        
                                                                

    AIR         Work-place          Switzerland         Maximum
work-place concentration (MAK)       0.002 mg/m3          1987 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                (carcinogen)

                                    United Kingdom      Recommended
limit (RECL)                                          1987 (r)

                                                        - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                0.002 mg/m3

                                    USA (OSHA)          Permissible
exposure limit (PEL)

                                    (regulatory)        - Time-weighted
average                      0.002 mg/m3

                                                        - Ceiling
concentration                      0.005 mg/m3

                                                        - Peak
concentration                         0.025 mg/m3

                                    USA (NIOSH)         Recommended
exposure limit (REL)             <0.0005 mg/m3        1977

                                    (advisory)                          
                            (potential human

                                                                        
                            carcinogen)

                                    USA (ACGIH)         Threshold limit
value (TLV)                  0.002 mg/m3          1987 (r)

                                    (advisory)          - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                (suspected 

                                                                        
                            carcinogen)

                                    USSR                Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)                             1977

                                                        - Ceiling value
(CLV)                        0.001 mg/m3

    AIR         Ambient             USSR                Preliminary
safety limit (PSL)                                    1983

                                                        - Peak
concentration (1 per day)             0.00001 mg/m3

    AIR         Emissions           Germany,            Maximum limit
(MXL)                          0.1 mg/m3, at        1986

                                    Federal             - Time-weighted
average (TWA)                a mass flow

                                    Republic of                         
                            of 0.5 g/h

                                                                        
                            or more, for

                                                                        
                            all Class I

                                                                        
                            carcinogens,

                                                                        
                            which includes 

                                                                        
                            beryllium

                                                                        
                                                                

    Medium      Specification       Country/            Exposure limit
description                   Value                Effective

                                    organization                        
                                                 date

                                                                        
                                                                

    AIR         Emissions           USA                 Maximum limit
(MXL)

                                                        - 30-day average
                            0.01 µg/m3

                                    USA                 Maximum limit
(MXL)

                                                        - Rocket
applications:                       75 µg min/m3

                                                            10-60
minutes accumulated during

                                                            2
consecutive weeks

                                                        - Collected
combustion products:             2 g/h or

                                                                        
                            10 g/day

    WATER       Surface             USSR                Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)        0.2 µg/litre         1985

    WATER       Drinking-           USSR                Maximum
allowable concentration (MAC)        0.2 µg/litre         1985

                                                                        
                                                                

    a TWA = time-weighted average over one working day (usually 8 h).

    

    Beryllium and its compounds are classified as "hazardous waste" for

    purposes of import or export by the EEC; transport is supervised and

    controlled.  Waste containing or contaminated with beryllium or its

    compounds is classified by the EEC as "toxic and dangerous waste"
and

    its disposal is subject to control.  In the United Kingdom, waste

    consisting of, or containing, beryllium or its compounds is
considered

    as "special waste" and its production, disposal, or importation is

    controlled.  The USA permits the burning of beryllium and

    beryllium-containing waste (except propellants) only in incinerators

    complying with emission standards.

    The EEC bans the use and marketing of cosmetic products containing

    beryllium or its compounds.

    7.3  Labelling, Packaging, and Transport

    In the EEC, beryllium and its compounds, with the exception of

    aluminium beryllium silicates, are classified as toxic for labelling

    and packaging purposes.  The label must read:

          Very toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin.  Irritating

          to respiratory system.  Danger of very serious irreversible

          effects.  In case of contact with eyes rinse immediately with

          plenty of water and seek medical advice.  After contact with

          skin wash immediately.  In case of accident or if you feel

          unwell, seek medical advice immediately.

    For marine transport, metallic beryllium powder and beryllium

    compounds are classified by the International Maritime Organization

    (IMO) as poisonous substances, presenting medical danger.  Beryllium

    is also classified as flammable.  The United Nations classification
of

    beryllium and beryllium compounds for the transport of dangerous
goods

    is "poisonous substance" and, for packing, a "substance presenting

    medium danger".

    BIBLIOGRAPHY

    ACGIH  (1986)   Documentation of the threshold limit values and

     biological exposure indices, Cincinnati, American Conference of

    Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

    CLAYTON, G.D. & CLAYTON, F.E.  (1981)   Patty's Industrial Hygiene
and

     Toxicology, Vol. 2A, New York, Wiley - Interscience, John Wiley &

    Sons.

    GOSSELIN R.E., HODGE H.C., SMITH R.P., & GLEASON M.N.  (1976)

     Clinical toxicology of commercial products, 4th ed., Baltimore,

    Maryland, Williams and Wilkins Company.

    DUTCH ASSOCIATION OF SAFETY EXPERTS  (1980)   Handling chemicals

     safely, 2nd ed., Dutch Association of Safety Experts, Dutch
Chemical

    Industry Association, Dutch Safety Institute.

    IRPTC (1989)   Data profile (legal file, waste disposal file,

     treatment of poisoning file), Geneva, International Register for

    Potentially Toxic Chemicals, United Nations Environment Programme.

    MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS COLLECTION PLUS UPDATING SERVICE  (1984)

    New York, Genium Publishing Corporation.

    SAX, N.I.  (1984)   Dangerous properties of industrial materials,
New

    York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, Inc.

    US NIOSH  (1976)  A guide to industrial respiratory protection,

    Cincinnati, Ohio, US National Institute for Occupational Safety and

    Health.

    US NIOSH/OSHA  (1981)  Occupational health guidelines for chemical

     hazards, Washington DC, US National Institute for Occupational

    Safety and Health,  Occupational Safety and Health Association 3
Vol.

    (Publication No. 01-123).

    US NIOSH/OSHA  (1985)  Pocket guide to chemical hazards, Washington,

    DC, US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 

    Occupational Safety and Health Association (Publication No. 85.114).

    WHO  (1990)  EHC 106: Beryllium, Geneva, World Health Organization.

    

    See Also:

         HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/eintro/eintro/abreviat.htm" 
Toxicological Abbreviations 

         HYPERLINK "http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc106.htm" 
Beryllium (EHC 106, 1990) 

         HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0226.htm"  Beryllium
(ICSC) 

         HYPERLINK
"http://www.inchem.org/documents/ukpids/ukpids/ukpid45.htm"  Beryllium
(UKPID)