The Beryllium Thread

[Simplex3]

I'm putting this in here so that it won't hang around the top of the lounge while I cut and paste information in to post after post.

This is part of my ongoing offseaon attempt to get us ranked on the first page of some search engine(s) when nerds search for "beryllium".

Before you PM me with "Why?", the answer is simply that I am sitting around reading log files at work and cutting and pasting into this thread requires absolutely NO mental stress.

[2112]

How might beryllium & compounds enter the environment?

Beryllium can be transported as particles released into the atmosphere or as dissolved compounds in natural waters.

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Where in the environment do beryllium & compounds end up?

Beryllium is a naturally occurring element and low background levels in air, water and food are found everywhere. Beryllium can enter the environment from rocks, soil, and industrial emissions and waste. Airborne beryllium dust from the burning of coal and oil settles to the soil and water. Beryllium from rocks and soil can enter natural water systems, but because most beryllium compounds settle to the bottom as particles natural waters contain very little dissolved beryllium. However, higher concentrations of beryllium may be found in acidified waters. Soils tend to fix beryllium in water soluble compounds in forms that are not bioavailable to plants.

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Common uses

Worldwide, industrial grade beryl is used as a feedstock for beryllium metal, alloys and oxide, all of which have many high-tech applications particularly in the nuclear, electronic and ceramic industries. Beryllium is a structural material in space technology, inertial guidance systems, additive to rocket fuels, moderator and reflector of neutrons in nuclear reactors (e.g. at ANSTO, Lucas Heights). Pure beryllium metal is used to make aircraft disc brakes, nuclear weapons and reactors, aircraft-satellite-space vehicle structures and instruments, X-ray transmission windows, missile parts, fuel containers, precision instruments, rocket propellants, navigational systems, heat shields, and mirrors. Beryllium alloys such as beryllium-copper are used in electrical connectors and relays, springs, precision instruments, aircraft engine parts, non-sparking tools, submarine cable housings and pivots, wheels, and pinions. More specifically, beryllium oxide is used in the manufacture of specialty electrical and high-technology ceramics, special glass, electronic heat sinks, electron tubes, electrical insulators, electronics components, microwave oven components, nuclear fuels and nuclear moderators, gyroscopes, military vehicle armour, rocket nozzles, and laser structural components. Beryllium chloride is used in refining beryllium ores and as a chemical reagent. Beryllium fluoride is used in refining beryllium and manufacturing beryllium alloys, and as a chemical reagent. Beryllium nitrate is used as a chemical reagent, a gas mantle hardener and in refining beryllium ores.

Beryllium and its compounds are mainly used in Australia in very small quantities in electronic equipment. The relevance of beryllium and its compounds to Australia 's environmental and public health stems not from its commercial use, but its presence in emissions from combustion of fossil fuels in, for example, coal-fired power stations.

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Industry sources

Mining of ores containing beryllium can contribute to higher levels in air, soil and water, i.e. small quantities of beryl are produced as a by-product of feldspar mining at Broken Hill (NSW). Emissions to air can result from combustion of coal and oil in power plants.

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Natural sources

Pure beryllium is not found in nature. Beryllium compounds can be found in mineral rocks, soil, coal, oil, and volcanic dust.

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Transport sources

Beryllium emissions are normally not associated with mobile sources.

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NPI rank

Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.

Beryllium & compounds was ranked as 76 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 4.0.

On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 beryllium & compounds registers 2.3. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.

On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 beryllium & compounds registers 1.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.

Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8. A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.

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Chemical properties:
The two most important ores mined for the recovery of beryllium are beryl (CASR# 1302-52-9) and bertrandite (CASR# 12161-82-9). Very pure gem-quality beryl is better known as either aquamarine or emerald. Most of the beryllium ore mined is processed into beryllium oxide which is then reduced to beryllium metal or converted to various beryllium compounds. Water solubility of beryllium and its salts varies, with beryllium chloride, fluoride, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate all being soluble in water. Other compounds are either insoluble (e.g. beryl, beryllium oxide) or only slightly soluble. Beryllium metal exposed to air forms an oxide coating which protects it from further oxidation, similar to aluminium. Beryllium reacts with strong acids and strong bases, and forms shock sensitive mixtures with some chlorinated solvents such as carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene.

[2112]

Beryllium is a brittle, steel gray metal found as a component of coal, oil, certain rock minerals, volcanic dust and soil. Elemental beryllium is used in a wide variety of applications. Exposure to beryllium most often occurs in mining, extraction, and in the processing of alloy metals containing beryllium. The metal is used in the aerospace, nuclear and manufacturing industries.

[2112]

Beryllium disease is caused by inhaling beryllium particles, dust or fumes. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss or loss of appetite, fever and sweating. Medical tests may reveal abnormal lung sounds, lung scars, decreased pulmonary function, granulomas (a nodular form of chronic inflammation) and an allergy to beryllium. The chronic form of the disease, Chronic Beryllium Disease (“CBD”) is caused by an allergic reaction to beryllium. Depending on the severity of CBD, symptoms of pulmonary hypertension or respiratory failure may be present. CBD is incurable, usually irreversible and may result in death. The acute form of the disease, involving skin disease with poor wound healing and rash or wart-like bumps, is rarely seen and usually not nearly as serious as CBD.

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Exposure to beryllium can occur in the workplace. The following industries have used beryllium:



Metal working (pure beryllium, copper and aluminum alloys, jet brake pads, aerospace components)

Ceramic manufacturing (semi-conductor chips, ignition modules, crucibles, jet engine blades, rocket covers)

Electronics (transistors, heat sinks, x-ray windows)

Atomic energy industry (heat shields, nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons)

Laboratory work (research and development, metallurgy, chemistry)

Extraction (ore and scrap metal)

Dental work (alloys and crowns, bridges, dental plates)

Prior to 1951, beryllium was used in the fluorescent lamp industry

[2112]

A single exposure is sufficient for a lifelong risk of developing the disease. Because CBD is caused by an allergic reaction to beryllium, very little exposure is required in order to cause the chronic form of the disease. Exposure to greater quantities of beryllium does not necessarily increase the chance that you will get CBD.

[2112]

You may already have symptoms, which include fatigue, non-productive cough, gradually progressive shortness of breath, chest pain, anorexia, weight loss, fever, night sweats and joint and muscle pain. However, you may have none of these symptoms and still have the disease or be considered “beryllium sensitized.”

[2112]

Blood BeLPT is a simple test which determines if you are allergic to beryllium and, therefore, beryllium sensitized. This test can establish a beryllium-specific immune response using the blood or lavage BeLPT or beryllium salt patch test plus pathologic changes consistent with CBD. While a history of beryllium exposure is helpful, it is not necessary to know how you got exposed. This is especially important given that seemingly trivial exposures to beryllium can cause significant disease. By using an immunologic criterion, patients who have little apparent history of beryllium exposure can be detected. Also, individuals may now be diagnosed with CBD at its early stages, sometimes prior to the appearance of clinical signs, symptoms, or radiographic (x-ray) or physiologic (lung function) abnormalities. Early detection may improve disease prognosis even though it remains incurable.

[2112]

Yes. Scientific evidence has confirmed that beryllium is a human carcinogen and a number of large epidemiologic studies have shown an increased risk of lung cancer among those exposed to beryllium.