In this volume are assessed the risks to human health and the environment of Beryllium, found in the earth's crust at an average concentration of approximately 2.8-5.0 mg/kg. Beryllium-containing minerals are processed to beryllium metal, beryllium alloys, and beryllium oxide for use in aerospace, weapons, nuclear and electronics industries. The general population is exposed to beryllium primarily in food and drinking-water, with smaller contributions from air and incidental ingestion of dust. There are no human studies addressing the toxicokinetics of beryllium or beryllium compounds; however, beryllium has been found in the lungs and urine of non-occupationally exposed individuals. There are no reliable data on the oral toxicity of beryllium in humans. The lungs are the primary target of inhalation exposure to beryllium in animals and humans. Short-term or repeated exposures of humans to beryllium or its compounds can result in an acute or chronic form of lung disease. Increases in lung cancer mortality were observed in cohort mortality studies of beryllium processing workers.

This book introduces beryllium; its history, its chemical, mechanical, and physical properties including nuclear properties. The 29 chapters include the mineralogy of beryllium and the preferred global sources of ore bodies. The identification and specifics of the industrial metallurgical processes used to form oxide from the ore and then metal from the oxide are thoroughly described. The special features of beryllium chemistry are introduced, including analytical chemical practices. Beryllium compounds of industrial interest are identified and discussed. Alloying, casting, powder processing, forming, metal removal, joining and other manufacturing processes are covered. The effect of composition and process on the mechanical and physical properties of beryllium alloys assists the reader in material selection. The physical metallurgy chapter brings conformity between chemical and physical metallurgical processing of beryllium, metal, alloys, and compounds. The environmental degradation of beryllium and its alloys both in aqueous and high temperature condition are presented. The health and environmental issues are thoroughly presented the current requirements and established practices for handling beryllium in the workplace are available. A thorough list of references will assist the user of this book.

Beryllium is a lightweight metal that is used for its exceptional strength and high heat-absorbing capability. Beryllium and its alloys can be found in many important technologies in the defense and aeronautics industries, such as nuclear devices, satellite systems, radar systems, and aircraft bushings and bearings. Pulmonary disease associated with exposure to beryllium has been recognized and studied since the early 1940s, and an occupational guideline for limiting exposure to beryllium has been in place since 1949. Over the last few decades, much has been learned about chronic beryllium disease and factors that contribute to its occurrence in exposed people. Despite reduced workplace exposure, chronic beryllium disease continues to occur. Those developments have led to debates about the adequacy of the long-standing occupational exposure limit for protecting worker health. This book, requested by the U.S. Air Force to help to determine the steps necessary to protect its workforce from the effects of beryllium used in military aerospace applications, reviews the scientific literature on beryllium and outlines an exposure and disease management program for its protecting workers.

Explores the element of Beryllium and its uses.

Published by the WHO for the International Programme on Chemical Safety (a collaborative programme of the UNEP, ILO, and the WHO). This is a companion volume to Environmental Health Criteria 106: Beryllium