The National Academies Press

Currently Skimming:

2 Exposure Assessment
Pages 10-31

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.

From page 10... ... Exposure data on naturally occurring, background, and occupational exposures to beryllium are described next, and later sections examine sampling and analytic methods and exposure metrics for air and surface contamination and skin exposures. SOURCES AND USES This section reviews forms and characteristics of beryllium that are present in natural and anthropogenic settings. Read the entire page →
From page 11... ... has estimated that as much as 180 metric tons of beryllium may be emitted each year from U.S. coal combustion; fuel oil is burned at the rate of 148 million metric tons per year and has a beryllium emission factor of 0.048 g/ton, which would mean another 7.1 metric tons of beryllium released each year. Read the entire page →
From page 12... ... Reported Amounts Released (lb/year) a Total On Number of Underground Total On- Total Off- and Off-Site Stateb Facilities Airc Site Released Site Releasee Release Water Injection Land CA 3 0 No data No data No data 0 No data 0 IN 3 0 No data No data 2,650 2,650 2,415 5,065 LA 1 2 No data No data No data 2 No data 2 MO 1 0 No data No data 10 10 0 10 NC 1 38 No data No data No data 38 No data 38 OH 6 721 27 No data 50,352 51,280 9,870 61,150 OK 2 No data 23 No data 5 28 6,830 6,858 PA 1 1 7 No data No data 8 966 974 SC 1 7 No data No data 74 81 No data 81 TN 1 No data No data No data No data No data No data No data UT 1 0 No data No data 0 0 No data 0 WI 1 No data No data No data No data No data No data No data Total 22 769 57 0 53,271 54,097 20,081 74,178 a Data in Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Read the entire page →
From page 13... ... a Total On Number of Underground Total On- Total Off- and Off-Site Stateb Facilities Airc Site Released Site Releasee Water Injection Land Release AL 6 419 250 No data 62,691 63,360 326 63,686 AR 2 197 48 No data 9,130 9,375 1 9,376 AZ 4 50 No data No data 16,421 16,471 1,630 18,101 FL 3 390 250 No data 5,745 6,385 5 6,390 GA 5 764 0 No data 76,925 77,689 No data 77,689 IL 1 79 850 No data 8,500 9,429 No data 9,429 IN 4 340 63 No data 40,019 40,422 3,808 44,230 KY 5 351 1,221 No data 21,730 29,302 No data 29,302 MD 1 No data No data No data No data No data No data No data MI 2 313 17 No data 15,000 15,330 250 15,580 MO 3 10 No data No data No data 10 555 565 MS 1 2 20 4,100 19 4,141 0 4,141 MT 1 250 No data No data 6,900 7,150 750 7,900 NC 4 817 403 No data 51,010 52,230 260 52,490 NM 4 112 77 No data 47,724 47,913 39,000 86,913 NY 1 20 0 No data 400 420 No data 420 OH 4 450 30 No data 25,846 26,326 11,422 37,748 PA 4 1,580 16 No data 8,700 10,296 6,411 16,707 TN 2 256 250 No data 14,100 14,606 640 15,246 TX 1 19 0 No data 31,400 31,419 No data 31,419 UT 4 366 No data No data 299,952 300,318 5 300,323 WI 1 10 5 No data No data 15 255 270 WV 9 861 10 No data 70,765 71,636 6,800 78,436 WY 1 160 No data No data 3,970 4,130 No data 4,130 Total 73 7,816 3,510 4,100 822,947 838,373 72,118 910,491 a Data in Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) are maximum amounts released by each facility. Read the entire page →
From page 14... ... and EPA (1998b) suggest that skin absorption of beryllium compounds in the systemic circulation is minimal, although absorption through bruises and cut wounds has been demonstrated (Rossman et al. Read the entire page →
From page 15... ... In 1930-1950, exposures typically ranged from micrograms per cubic meter to hundreds of micrograms per cubic meter; in 1950-1970, micrograms to tens of micrograms per cubic meter; in 1970-1980, tenths of a microgram to tens of micrograms per cubic meter; and in 1980-1990, from hundredths to tenths of a microgram per cubic meter. While this indicates a general trend, it should be noted that beryllium exposures can vary considerably and there was potential for exposures outside those general ranges. Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... TABLE 2-5 Summary of Beryllium Airborne-Exposure Studies 16 Reference Setting Sample Type Summary of Key Findings Comments Cummings et al. 2007 Beryllium oxide ceramics Personal Production facility 1994-1999 Range: <0.02-62.4 µg/m3 Median: 0.20 µg/m3 Geometric mean: 0.21 µg/m3 2% of samples were >2 µg/m3 55% of samples were >0.2 µg/m3 2000-2003 Range: <0.02-53.3 µg/m3 Median: 0.18 µg/m3 Geometric mean: 0.18 µg/m3 4% of samples were >2 µg/m3 50% of samples were >0.2 µg/m3 Production support 1994-1999 Range: <0.02-0.80 µg/m3 Median: 0.10 µg/m3 Geometric mean: 0.11 µg/m3 <1% of samples were >2 µg/m3 29% of samples were >0.2 µg/m3 2000-2003 Range: <0.02-7.70 µg/m3 Median: 0.04 µg/m3 Geometric mean: 0.04 µg/m3 <1% of samples were >2 µg/m3 12% of samples were >0.2 µg/m3 Administration 1994-1999 Range: <0.20 µg/m3 2000-2003 Range: <0.02-0.35 µg/m3 Median: 0.02 µg/m3 Geometric mean: 0.02 µg/m3 <1% of samples were >2 µg/m3 <1% of samples were >0.2 µg/m3 Day et al. Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... 2005 Processing facility in PA Daily Mean average range: 7.1-8.7 µg/m3 Exposure data were weighted Mean peak range: 53-87 µg/m3 presented in relation to average Mean cumulative range: 100-209 µg/m3 subjects classified with BeS or CBD or as normal Continued next page 17 Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... 2001a Mining and mill facility Area Mining and milling: 0.3-1.9 µg/m3 (annual medians) 1970-1999 historical data Products facility Mining and milling annual maximums: 6.2-234.5 Ceramics facility µg/m3 Mixed product production: 0.1-1.0 µg/m3 (annual medians) Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... Kent et al. 2001 Manufacturing plant, Personal Total mass mean range: 0.13-1.04 µg/m3 Andersen impactor Elmore, OH Alveolar deposition: 0.05-0.63 µg/m3 Ammonium beryllium fluoride and beryllium fluoride reduction furnace had highest concentrations Continued on next page 19 Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... 2000 Department of Energy Area Annual mean ranges Machine shop sampling from Rocky Flats beryllium 1960s: 0.116-0.662 µg/m3 1960 to 1988 shop 1970s: 0.104-0.416 µg/m3 1980s: 0.083-0.271 µg/m3 Maximum daily ranges 1960s: 3.49-36.80 µg/m3 1970s: 1.57-11.34 µg/m3 1980s: 0.54-20.00 µg/m3 Yoshida et al. 1997 Beryllium-copper alloy Area Plant 1 alloy process: 0.16-0.26 µg/m3 (GM range for plants 1992-1995) Read the entire page →
From page 21... ... 1997 Beryllium and beryllium- Area Median: 0.4 µg/m3 1984-1993 historical data alloy plant Range: 0.1-0.7 µg/m3 Pebble plant median: 0.4 µg/m3 Pebble plant range: 0.1-79.2 µg/m3 Breathing zone Median: 1.4 µg/m3 Range: 0.1-2.0 µg/m3 Pebble plant median: 1.1 µg/m3 Pebble plant range: 0.1-293.3 µg/m3 Personal Median: 1.0 µg/m3 Range: 0.1-52.6 µg/m3 Beryllium oxide production median: 3.8 µg/m3 Alloy melting and casting median: 1.75 µg/m3 Arc-furnace workers median: 1.75 µg/m3 Pebble plant median: 0.9 µg/m3 Pebble plant range: 0.1-19.0 µg/m3 Daily 1984-1993 historical data Range: 0.5-63.11 µg/m3 weighted Arc-furnace workers median: 1.65 µg/m3 Quarterly estimates based on average Furnace rebuild workers median: 1.63 µg/m3 area, breathing zone, and Pebble plant median: 0.7 µg/m3 personal samples Pebble plant range: 0.1-7.9 µg/m3 Barnard et al. 1996 Department of Energy Retrospective reconstruction, Area 1970-1974: 0.34 µg/m3 (weighted mean) Read the entire page →
From page 22... ... 1996b Department of Energy Fixed airhead Annual mean ranges: Rocky Flats, main 1970-1979: 0.10-0.42 µg/m3 production building 1980-1988: 0.03-0.27 µg/m3 Personal Annual mean: 1985: 1.09 µg/m3 1986: 1.20 µg/m3 1987: 0.46 µg/m3 1988: 0.19 µg/m3 Hoover et al. 1990 Sawing and milling of Area General work area: 0.07 µg/m3 Sawing, milling, and grinding beryllium metal and alloys Ventilation shroud: >7,000 µg/m3 produced large particles (50-300 µm) Read the entire page →
From page 23... ... Non-occupational Ambient air Median around plant: 0.004 µg/m3 500 2-day samples collected 1959 sampling Median around steel mill collected for comparison: around a beryllium plant in PA 0.0002 µg/m3 Eisenbud et al. Non-occupational Ambient air Based on investigations of Concentrations 0.75 miles from the plant ranged from 1949 sampling and berylliosis case near a beryllium 0.004 to 0.02 µg/m3 modeling processing plant in Lorain, OH Note: GM = geometric mean, GSD = geometric standard deviation, PCAM = portable continuous aerosol monitor, TWA = time-weighted average. Read the entire page →
From page 24... ... . In production, production-support, and office areas, the geometric mean beryllium concentrations were, respectively, 0.95, 0.59, and 0.05 µg/100 cm2 on work surfaces; 42.8, 73.8, and 0.07 µg/sample on cotton gloves; 0.07, 0.09, and 0.003 µg on necks; and 0.07, 0.12, and 0.003 µg on faces. Read the entire page →
From page 25... ... were <0.01 µg/cm2 samples Mean of four detectable samples was 3.5 µg/cm3 Note: GM = geometric mean, GSD = geometric standard deviation. TABLE 2-7 Summary of Beryllium Biomonitoring Exposure Studies Jobs or Sample Reference Worker Area Type Summary of Key Findings Comments Apostoli Metallurgy Spot Electric steel-plant furnace workers: 0.09 µg/L End of shift and workers urine (median) Read the entire page →
From page 26... ... Beryllium chloride, beryllium fluoride, beryllium nitrate, beryllium phosphate (trihydrate) , and beryllium sulfate (tetrahydrate) Read the entire page →
From page 27... ... Beryllium carbonate and beryllium sulfate are formed in a step during the extraction of beryllium hydroxide from ore. Beryllium ammonium fluoride and beryllium fluoride are formed in steps of processing beryllium hydroxide to beryllium metal. Read the entire page →
From page 28... ... of particles smaller than 10 µm deposited in the alveoli also showed significant relationships with CBD. That no other exposure measures showed significant relationships with CBD or BeS suggests that size-selective characterization of exposure concentrations may provide more relevant exposure metrics for predicting the incidence of CBD or BeS than does the total mass concentration of airborne beryllium. Read the entire page →
From page 29... ... in SSA was observed as a function of particle size of the beryllium oxide powder and particles collected from the screening operation. The SSA of berylliummetal powder decreases with increasing particle size, as expected for compact particles, and the SSA of the beryllium oxide powders and particles remains constant as a function of particle size, which might be expected for clustered particles. Read the entire page →
From page 30... ... CBD risk was highest in rod and wire production workers; their air concentrations were highest. The area of wire annealing and pickling had the highest airborne beryllium concentrations and may have been a source of exposure of workers in other rod and wire processes nearby. Read the entire page →
From page 31... ... In addition, there is now evidence that skin exposure is probably an important contributor to sensitization. Thus, in the second report, the committee will focus its attention on characterizing inhalation and skin exposure contributions to risk of BeS and CBD, and whether differences in the physiochemical properties and bioavailability of beryllium compounds warrant the development of different chronic inhalation exposure levels for different beryllium compounds. Read the entire page →

From page 10...

... Exposure data on naturally occurring, background, and occupational exposures to beryllium are described next, and later sections examine sampling and analytic methods and exposure metrics for air and surface contamination and skin exposures. SOURCES AND USES This section reviews forms and characteristics of beryllium that are present in natural and anthropogenic settings.

2 Exposure Assessment Pages 10-31

2 Exposure Assessment
Pages 10-31