* Beryllium levels in tissues can be measured through biopsy procedures, however the relationship to exposure is not well documented. (1)

* A medical test, termed the antigen-specific lymphocyte transformation test, can be used to measure hypersensitivity in individuals previously exposed to beryllium and can also be used to diagnose chronic beryllium disease. (1)

Health Hazard Information

Acute Effects:

* Acute inhalation exposure to high levels of beryllium has been observed to cause inflammation of the lungs and acute pneumonitis (reddening and swelling of the lungs) in humans; after exposure ends, these symptoms may be reversible. (1-4)

* Acute animal tests have demonstrated beryllium compounds to vary in acute toxicity, ranging from high to extreme acute toxicity from oral exposure. (5)

Chronic Effects (Noncancer):

* Chronic occupational exposure of humans to beryllium by inhalation has been reported to cause chronic beryllium disease (berylliosis), in which granulomatous lesions (noncancerous) develop in the lung. The onset of these effects may be delayed by 3 months to more than 20 years. Symptoms of chronic beryllium disease include irritation of the mucous membranes, reduced lung capacity, shortness of breath, fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, malaise, and weight loss. (1-4)

* Chronic inhalation exposure has also been observed to cause immunological effects in humans and animals. (1-3)

* A skin allergy may result from dermal exposure to beryllium. Eye contact with beryllium dust has been observed to cause acute conjunctivitis in humans. (1)

* Animal studies have also reported effects on the lung, such as chronic pneumonitis, from chronic inhalation exposure. (1-3)

* The Reference Concentration (RfC) for beryllium is 0.00002 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) based on respiratory effects in humans. The RfC is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious noncancer effects during a lifetime. It is not a direct estimator of risk but rather a reference point to gauge the potential effects. At exposures increasingly greater than the RfC, the potential for adverse health effects increases. Lifetime exposure above the RfC does not imply that an adverse health effect would necessarily occur. (3)

* EPA has medium confidence in the RfC due to: (1) medium confidence in the study on which the RfC is based because no NOAEL was identified in the study, but a NOAEL slightly below the LOAEL was suggested in another study; and (2) medium confidence in the database due to lack of adequate exposure monitoring in the epidemiology studies and some uncertainty regarding the mechanism associated with progression to chronic beryllium disease in beryllium-sensitized individuals. (3)

* The Reference Dose (RfD) for beryllium is 0.002 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day (mg/kg/d) based on small intestinal lesions in dogs. (3)

* EPA has low to medium confidence in the RfD due to: (1) medium confidence in the study on which the RfD was based because there were small groups of animals, early mortality at the high dose level, no measure of immune response or function, and no control for potential litter effects, and (2) low to medium confidence in the database because there is only one chronic study in dogs showing adverse effect levels and other chronic studies in rodents demonstrated NOAELs at the highest doses tested. (3)

Reproductive/Developmental Effects:

* The potential for beryllium to induce developmental or reproductive effects has not been adequately assessed.

* Limited information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of beryllium in humans following inhalation exposure. A case control study found no association between paternal occupational exposure and the risk of stillbirth, pre-term delivery, or small-for-gestational-age infants, although this study has limited sensitivity. (2,3)

* No data are available on reproductive or developmental effects in animals following inhalation. (2,3)

Cancer Risk:

* Several human epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between beryllium exposure in workers and lung cancer deaths. Although there are shortcomings in all the studies, the results are suggestive of a causal relationship between beryllium exposure and an increased risk of lung cancer. (2,3)

* Beryllium compounds have been shown to cause lung cancer from inhalation exposure in rats and monkeys. (1,2,3)

* EPA has classified beryllium as a Group B1, probable human carcinogen. (3)

* EPA uses mathematical models, based on animal and human studies, to estimate the probability of a person developing cancer from breathing air containing a specified concentration of a chemical. EPA calculated an inhalation unit risk estimate of 2.4 × 10-3 (µg/m3)-1. EPA estimates that, if an individual were to continuously breathe air containing beryllium at an average of 0.0004 µg/m3 (4 x 10-7 mg/m3) over his or her entire lifetime, that person would theoretically have no more than a one-in-a-million increased chance of developing cancer as a direct result of breathing air containing this chemical. Similarly, EPA estimates that continuously breathing air containing 0.004 µg/m3 (4 x 10-6 mg/m3) would result in not greater than a one-in-a-hundred thousand increased chance of developing cancer, and air containing 0.04 µg/m3 (4 x 10-5 mg/m3) would result in not greater than a one-in-ten thousand increased chance of developing cancer. For a detailed discussion of confidence in the potency estimates, please see IRIS. (3)

Physical Properties

* The chemical symbol for pure beryllium is Be, and its atomic weight is 9.012 g/mol. (1)

* Pure beryllium is a hard gray metal that does not occur naturally but does occur as a chemical component of certain kinds of rocks, coal and oil, soil, and volcanic dust. (1)

* Beryllium is also present in a variety of compounds such as beryllium fluoride, beryllium chloride, beryllium sulfate, beryllium oxide, and beryllium phosphate. (1)

* Pure beryllium is insoluble in water; however, some of its compounds are soluble in water. (1)

Conversion Factors (only for the gaseous form):

Beryllium and its compounds do not exist in the atmosphere in the vapor phase (in ppm); therefore, an air conversion factor is not applicable. (1)

To convert concentrations in air from µg/m3 to mg/m3: mg/m3 = (µg/m3) × (1 mg/1,000 µg).

Health Data from Inhalation Exposure

ACGIH TLV--American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value expressed as a time-weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effects.

AIHA ERPG--American Industrial Hygiene Association's emergency response planning guidelines. ERPG 1 is the maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed nearly all individuals could be exposed up to one hour without experiencing other than mild transient adverse health effects or perceiving a clearly defined objectionable odor; ERPG 2 is the maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed nearly all individuals could be exposed up to one hour without experiencing or developing irreversible or other serious health effects that could impair their abilities to take protective action.

NIOSH IDLH-- National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's immediately dangerous to life or health concentration; NIOSH recommended exposure limit to ensure that a worker can escape from an exposure condition that is likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from the environment.

NIOSH REL--NIOSH's recommended exposure limit; NIOSH-recommended exposure limit for an 8- or 10-h time-weighted-average exposure and/or ceiling.

OSHA PEL--Occupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit expressed as a time-weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effect averaged over a normal 8-h workday or a 40-h workweek.

The health and regulatory values cited in this factsheet were obtained in December 1999.

aHealth numbers are toxicological numbers from animal testing or risk assessment values developed by EPA.

bRegulatory numbers are values that have been incorporated in Government regulations, while advisory numbers are nonregulatory values provided by the Government or other groups as advice. OSHA numbers are regulatory, whereas NIOSH, ACGIH, and AIHA are advisory.

cThis NOAEL is from the critical study used as the basis of the EPA RfC.

References

1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Beryllium (Draft). Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1992.

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Toxicological Review of Beryllium and Compounds. In support of summary information on IRIS. National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC. 1998.

3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on Beryllium. National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC. 1999.

4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.

5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.

6. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cincinnati, OH. 1997.

7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Toxic and Hazardous Substances. Code of Federal Regulations. 29 CFR 1910.1000. 1998.

8. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). 1999 TLVs and BEIs. Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents. Biological Exposure Indices. Cincinnati, OH. 1999.

9. American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). The AIHA 1998 Emergency Response Planning Guidelines and Workplace Environmental Exposure Level Guides Handbook. 1998.

Beryllium

Pronunciation: b&-'ri-lE-&m
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek bEryllion
: a steel-gray light strong brittle toxic divalent metallic element used chiefly as a hardening agent in alloys --

Berylliosis is lung inflammation caused by inhaling dust or fumes that contain the metallic element beryllium. Found in rocks, coal, soil, and volcanic dust, beryllium is used in the aerospace industry and in many types of manufacturing. Berylliosis occurs in both acute and chronic forms. In some cases, appearance of the disease may be delayed as much as 20 years after exposure to beryllium

The manufacture of fluorescent light bulbs is no longer a source of beryllium

Working with pure beryllium, beryllium compounds (e.g. beryllium oxide), or beryllium alloys causes occupational exposure.

Beryllium dust and fumes are classified as toxic air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is estimated that 2–6% of workers exposed to these contaminants eventually develop berylliosis.

This condition is caused by beryllium air pollution that inflames the lungs making them rigid; it can affect the eyes and skin as well. People who have acute berylliosis are usually veryill. Most recover, but some die of the disease.

The beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), a blood test that can detect beryllium sensitivity (i.e. an allergic reaction to beryllium), is used to screen individuals at risk of developing berylliosis.

Beryllium Support Group. P.O. Box 2021, Broomfield, CO 80038-2021. (303) 412-7065.

"Beryllium Chemical Backgrounder." Environmental Health Center Page. 28 May 1998

"Beryllium Disease: Reducing the Risks." National Jewish Medical Research Center Page. 28 May 1998

This web site was formally launched on March 12, 1996 by Michael Jackson (:eek:) member of the Beryllium Support Group which meets monthly at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado. The intent is to provide a platform where any other Beryllium Support Group regardless of affiliation or location can freely participate in the presentation of or transfer of information relating to this incurable disease.


Michael Jackson combined with Beryllium, has to improve your Beryllium status on any search group.

current and historical information relating to the health risks of using beryllium

The essentials

• Name: beryllium
• Symbol: Be
• Atomic number: 4
• Atomic weight: 9.012182 (3)
• CAS Registry ID: 7440-41-7

• Group number: 2
• Group name: Alkaline earth metal
• Period number: 2
• Block: s-block

Here is a brief description of beryllium.

• Standard state: solid at 298 K
• Colour: lead grey
• Classification: Metallic
• Availability: beryllium is available in several forms including foil, lump, and powder. Small and large samples of beryllium foil can be purchased from Advent Research Materials via their web catalogue.

Here is a brief description of beryllium.

• Standard state: solid at 298 K
• Colour: lead grey
• Classification: Metallic
• Availability: beryllium is available in several forms including foil, lump, and powder. Small and large samples of beryllium foil can be purchased from Advent Research Materials via their web catalogue.

Beryllium (IPA: /bəˈrɪliəm/) is the chemical element that has the symbol Be and atomic number 4. A bivalent element, elemental beryllium is a steel grey, strong, light-weight yet brittle, alkaline earth metal. It is primarily used as a hardening agent in alloys (most notably beryllium copper).

Notable characteristicsBeryllium has one of the highest melting points of the light metals. The modulus of elasticity of beryllium is approximately 1/3 greater than that of steel. It has excellent thermal conductivity, is nonmagnetic and resists attack by concentrated nitric acid. It is highly permeable to X-rays, and neutrons are liberated when it is hit by alpha particles, as from radium or polonium (about 30 neutrons/million alpha particles). At standard temperature and pressures beryllium resists oxidation when exposed to air (although its ability to scratch glass is probably due to the formation of a thin layer of the oxide). The speed of sound in beryllium (12,500m/s) is greater than in any other element.

The name beryllium comes from the Greek beryllos, beryl, from Prakrit veruliya, from Pāli veuriya; possibly from or simply akin to a Dravidian source represented by Tamil veiruor, viar, "to whiten, become pale."[1] At one time beryllium was referred to as glucinium (from Greek glykys, sweet), due to the sweet taste of its salts. This element was discovered by Louis Vauquelin in 1798 as the oxide in beryl and in emeralds. Friedrich Wöhler and A. A. Bussy independently isolated the metal in 1828 by reacting potassium and beryllium chloride.

Beryllium is an essential constituent of about 100 out of about 4000 known minerals, the most important of which are bertrandite (Be4Si2O7(OH)2), beryl (Al2Be3Si6O18), chrysoberyl (Al2BeO4), and phenakite (Be2SiO4). Precious forms of beryl are aquamarine and emerald.

The most important commercial sources of beryllium and its compounds are beryl and bertrandite. Beryllium metal did not become readily available until 1957. Currently, most production of this metal is accomplished by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal. The price on the US market for vacuum-cast beryllium ingots was 338 US$ per pound ($745/kg) in 2001.[2]BeF2 + Mg → MgF2 + Be

Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium-copper, containing up to 2.5% beryllium. Beryllium-copper alloys are used in a wide variety of applications because of their combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength and hardness, nonmagnetic properties, along with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. These applications include the making of spot-welding electrodes, springs, non-sparking tools and electrical contacts.

Beryllium metal is, due to its stiffness, light weight, and dimensional stability over a wide temperature range, used in the defense and aerospace industries as light-weight structural materials in high-speed aircraft, missiles, space vehicles and communication satellites.

Thin sheets of beryllium foil are used with X-ray detection diagnostics to filter out visible light and allow only X-rays to be detected.

Beryllium is an effective p-type dopant in III-V compound semiconductors. It is widely used in materials such as GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAs, and InAlAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).

In the field of X-ray lithography beryllium is used for the reproduction of microscopic integrated circuits

In the telecommunications industry, Beryllium is made into tools that are used to tune the highly magnetic klystrons used for high power microwave transmissions for safety.

Because it has a low thermal neutron absorption cross section, the nuclear power industry uses this metal in nuclear reactors as a neutron reflector and moderator.