Drinking Water

Impact

The authors reported the results of trace metal analysis of 1,577 drinking water samples. Beryllium was detected in 5.4% of the samples and concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 1.22 mg/l with a mean value of 0.19 ug/l. Analysis of surface, ground, and rain waters have shown that beryllium concentrations are well below 1.0 ug/l. It was reported that the maximum beryllium concentration in 20 rain water samples and 56 river water samples (from 5 different Australian rivers) was 0.18 ug/l. Even heavily polluted Rhine and Main rivers in Germany, the concentrations were below 0.02 ug/l. EFFL: BASED ON ENRICHMENTS RELATIVE TO COAL AS A FUNCTION OF FLY ASH PARTICLE SIZE, BERYLLIUM BEHAVIOR WAS BETWEEN A) LITTLE OR NO ENRICHMENT IN THE SMALL PARTICLE FRACTION

Disposal

At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Beryllium (powder) waste should be converted into chemically inert oxides using incineration and particulate collection techniques. Recovery and recycle is an alternative to disposal for beryllium scrap and pickle liquors containing beryllium. PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": There is no universal method of disposal that has been proved satisfactory for all carcinogenic compounds

Atmosphere

URBAN AIR METAL PARTICLE CONCENTRATION IN THE US 1964-1965. POLLUTANT BERYLLIUM; AVERAGE CONCN LESS THAN 0.0005 UG/CU M; MAX CONCN 0.010 UG/CU M. At a beryllium extraction plant in Ohio, concentrations were approximately 2 mg/cu m over a 7 year period. Beryllium was present in 12% of 440 air samples analyzed from 16 cities. Concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 0.002 ug/cu m in urban areas and 0.00013 ug/cu m in more rural areas.

Hazard Summary-Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000

Inhalation exposure to beryllium primarily occurs in the workplaces where it is mined, processed, or converted into alloys and chemicals, or from the burning of coal or fuel oil and in tobacco smoke. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of beryllium has been observed to cause inflammation of the lungs or acute pneumonitis (reddening and swelling of the lungs) in humans; after exposure ends, these symptoms may be reversible. Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure of humans to beryllium has been reported to cause chronic beryllium disease (berylliosis), in which granulomatous lesions (noncancerous) develop in the lung. Human epidemiology studies are limited, but suggest a causal relationship between beryllium exposure and an increased risk of lung cancer. Inhalation exposure to beryllium has been demonstrated to cause lung cancer in rats and monkeys. EPA has classified beryllium as a Group B1, probable human carcinogen.

Is this your not-so-evil twin?

Please Note: The main sources of information for this fact sheet are EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), which contains information on oral chronic toxicity and the RfD and inhalation chronic toxicity and the RfC, and the carcinogenic effects of beryllium including the unit cancer risk for inhalation exposure, EPA's Toxicological Review of Beryllium and Compounds, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR's) Toxicological Profile for Beryllium.

Uses

* Pure beryllium and its metal alloys have applications in electrical components, tools, structural components for aircraft, missiles, and satellites, and other metal-fabricating uses. (1)

* Beryllium is also used in consumer products, such as televisions, calculators, and personal computers. (1)

Sources and Potential Exposure