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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Beryllium metal: Beryllium; Other synonyms vary depending upon the specific beryllium compound.

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0360 

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7440-41-7 (Metal); Vary depending on specific beryllium compound

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: DS1750000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1566 154 (compounds); 1567 134 (powder)

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Beryllium and Beryllium Compounds (as Be): Chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more


Exposure Limits

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-2 Table -- 2 μg/m3 TWA; 5 μg/m3 Ceiling for 30 min; 25 μg/m3 Peak

Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 0.002 mg/m3 TWA

Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 0.002 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.00005 mg/m3 TWA- Inhalable fraction; see Appendix C, Paragraph A; Skin; Sensitization; Appendix A1 - Confirmed Human Carcinogen

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.0005 mg/m3; Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens

Health Factors

Carcinogenic Classification:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Group B1, probable human carcinogen

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Group 1, carcinogenic to humans [609 KB PDF, 26 pages]

National Toxicology Program (NTP): Known to be a human carcinogen [6 MB PDF, 507 pages]
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 4 mg Be/m3

Potential Symptoms: ACUTE: severe inflammation of the lungs (pneumonitis), coughing, increasing breathlessness (dyspnea); CHRONIC: abnormal formation of inflammatory masses or nodules (granulomas), widespread scarring and thickening of deep lung tissues (interstitial pulmonary fibrosis), respiratory symptoms (dry coughing), weakness, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, increasing shortness of breath; (carcinogenic)

Health Effects: Carcinogen (HE2); Cumulative lung damage (Chronic Beryllium Disease) (HE10)

Affected Organs: liver, lungs, skin, eyes, mucous membranes

Literature Basis:
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
  • sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 microns
    maximum volume: 960 Liters   
    minimum volume:     480 Liters   
    maximum flow rate:     2.0 L/min (TWA)
    maximum volume: 60 Liters   
    minimum time:     30 Minutes   
    maximum flow rate:     2.0 L/min (Ceiling)
    maximum volume: 30 Liters   
    minimum time:     15 Minutes   
    maximum flow rate:     2.0 L/min (Peak)
    current analytical method: Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma; ICP/DCP-AES
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-125G)
    method classification: Fully Validated
    note: If the filter is not overloaded, samples may be collected up to an 8-hour period for a time weighted average determination.
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