Beryl (Al2Be3(SiO3)6)

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

If material not involved in fire: Keep material out of water sources and sewers. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

Personnel protection: Avoid breathing dusts, and fumes from burning material. Keep upwind. Avoid bodily contact with the material. ... Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water. ... /Beryllium compound, NOS/

The worker should wash daily at the end of each work shift, and prior to eating, drinking, smoking, etc. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Work clothing that becomes wet or significantly contaminated sould be removed and replaced. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Workers whose clothing may have become contaminated should change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

0.00005 [mg/m3], as Be, Inhalable fraction

8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 0.00005 mg/cu m (inhalable fraction); Skin. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

Excursion Limit Recommendation: Excursions in worker exposure levels may exceed 3 times the TLV-TWA for no more than a total of 30 minutes during a work day, and under no circumstances should they exceed 5 times the TLV-TWA, provided that the TLV-TWA is not exceeded. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

A1: Confirmed human carcinogen. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

2013 Notice of Intended Changes (NIC): Updates of Sensitizer (SEN) Notations to Dermal Sensitizer (DSEN) and/or Respiratory Sensitizer (RSEN). The following substances are placed on the NIC for review of this notation only. Substance: Beryllium and compounds, as Be; Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 0.00005 mg/cu m (Inhalable fraction); Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL): None; Notations: Skin; Dermal Sensitization (DSEN), Respiratory Sensitization (RSEN); A1: Confirmed human carcinogen.; Molecular Weight: 9.01; TLV Basis: Beryllium sensitization; Beryllium disease (berylliosis). /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

Respirator Recommendations: At concentrations above the NIOSH REL, or where there is no REL, at any detectable concentration: /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/[Table#4323]

Respirator Recommendations: Escape: /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/ [Table#4324]

Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Eyewash fountains should be provided in areas where there is any possibility that workers could be exposed to the substances; this is irrespective of the recommendations involving the wearing of eye protection. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

4.0 [mg/m3], as Be

NIOSH considers beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be) to be a potential occupational carcinogen. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Beryl, the ore of beryllium is found chiefly in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Argentina, and India. Principle sources in the USA are Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, and South Dakota. There are also deposits in Canada(1). Although forty-five beryllium-containing minerals have been identified, only beryl and bertrandite are of commercial importance(2). Beryl is found in mica, schist, granite, pegmatite, and argilite. Large deposits are also found in Mozambique, Madagascar, Uganda, and Russia(3).

Beryl is found in pegmatite,geological distribution: widely distributed. /From table/

Black Hills of South Dakota and Colorado, and now Utah, produce most of Be ore in US; New Mexico and New Hampshire supply some.

Beryl is the most abundant of minerals containing high concentration of Be oxide (10-13%). Major sources...are Argentina, Brazil, India, southern Rhodesia & South Africa

Beryllium is concentrated in silicate minerals relative to sulfides. In common crystalline rocks, the element is enriched in the feldspar minerals relative to ferromagnesium minerals and apparently replaces the silicon ion; 85-95% of the total crystal beryllium may be bound in the feldspar structures. ... The greatest known concentrations of beryllium are found in certain pegmatite bodies, where crystals of beryl account for a few percent of the total pegmatite volume, and may be found in several of the strata of zoned dykes. The element is sometimes concentrated in hydrothermal veins, and some granitic rocks contain sufficient amounts to permit the crystallization of small amounts of beryl.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Most persons suffering from beryllium poisoning come from plants extracting BE from beryl ore. Cutaneous irritations and conjunctivitis are frequently seen. Acute resp diseases may occur and progress unless continued exposure is prevented.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ ... Acute illness ... in beryllium industry ... reported ... /during/ ... processing of beryl ore for production of beryllium oxide. Thirty-eight cases with five deaths ... reported. Symptoms include cough, dyspnea, substernal pain, anorexia, increasing fatigue, and weight loss.

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Chronic be disease may result from prolonged inhalation of small amt. Patients may be ill for about 3 yr; few recover completely & mortality rate is about 20%. There may be 10 yr lapse between exposure & development of disease incl attacks of pneumonitis with be exposure.

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Beryllium is a component of many mine dusts, in the form of the mineral beryl (3Be0.6Al[2]0[3].6SiO[2]). Miners exposed to beryl-containing dusts had 3-7 fold higher incidences of pneumoconiosis and 9-12 fold higher incidences of chronic pneumonia than did unexposed miners having comparable lengths of service and working conditions. Simultaneous exposure to silica and beryl dusts produces a distinctive fibrotic condition of the lung, silicoberylliosis. This condition appears after as little as 5 years of exposure.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/...exposed for 6 hr/day on 5 days/week /for 20 weeks/ to an atmosphere containing 15 mg...dust/cu M. No pre-neoplastic or neoplastic lesions were seen... /beryl ore dust/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ ... Intratracheal administration of beryl dust to rats produced fibrosis within 30 days, changed the relative populations of red and white blood cells and reduced the cytochrome oxidase activities of lung, liver and kidney. Observations at 90, 180 and 270 days after exposure showed progressive development of fibrosis and emphysema.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Chronic Exposure or Carcinogenicity/ ...exposed for 6 hr/day on 5 days/week to an atmosphere containing 15 mg...dust/cu M. By 17 mo, 18 out of 19...had pulmonary tumors of various types. Most...were...microscopic...but 4...identified grossly @ necropsy. No metastases were observed... /beryl ore/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Chronic Exposure or Carcinogenicity/ Groups of 48 and 17 male Syrian golden hamsters (more than four weeks old) were exposed by inhalation to beryl ore (geometric mean particle diameter, 0.64 um) or bertrandite ore (geometric mean particle diameter, 0.27 um) as 15 mg/cu m dust for 6 hours per day, five days a week for up to 17 months. A third group, serving as controls, was housed in an inhalation chamber without exposure. The bertrandite ore atmosphere in the inhalation chamber contained 210 ug/cu m beryllium, and the beryl ore atmosphere contained 620 ug/cu m. The mortality of the animals exposed to the two ores exceeded that of controls by 25%. Atypical proliferations, first seen at 12 months in both groups of exposed animals, and lesions considered ... to be bronchiolar aveolar-cell tumors, except for their size, occurred. The lesions in the beryl-exposed animals were reported to become larger and more adenomatous after 17 months. The control hamsters had no pulmonary lesion.

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for BERYL (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds cause cancer of the lung. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). /Beryllium and beryllium compounds/

A1; Confirmed human carcinogen. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

Beryllium and beryllium compounds are known to be human carcinogens based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans. /Beryllium and compounds/

Beryl ore has not caused detectable illness in humans...may be because beryl and other /Be-ores/...occur in small veins and ... mined by small numbers of men in widely separated mines. ...Beryl miners are likely to be exposed to other dusts, esp silica, and any chest x-ray changes or symptoms would be diagnosed as silicosis.

Naturally occurring beryl ores have, to date, caused no illness. Men working such ores are few & have been exposed to other mineral & uncertain silica levels.

Most persons suffering from beryllium poisoning come from plants extracting Be from beryl ore. Cutaneous irritations and conjunctivitis are frequently seen. Acute respiratory diseases may occur and progress unless continued exposure is prevented.

OSHA estimates that approx 25,000 workers are exposed to beryllium. Among these are beryllium ore miners, beryllium alloy makers and fabricators, phosphorus manufacturers, ceramic workers, missile technicians, nuclear reactor workers, electric and electronic equipment workers and jewelers. /Beryllium/

Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Beryllium and Related Compounds/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool. Administer activated charcoal ... . /Beryllium and Related Compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Beryllium and Related Compounds/

Listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) generally known or suspected to cause serious health problems. The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, directs EPA to set standards requiring major sources to sharply reduce routine emissions of toxic pollutants. EPA is required to establish and phase in specific performance based standards for all air emission sources that emit one or more of the listed pollutants. Beryllium compounds are included on this list. /Beryllium Compounds/