Action by government agencies which have been taken pertaining to curtailment of open-air test firings of high-performance solid rocket motors utilizing beryllium (Be) powder as a fuel are summarized. More recent analytical and biological test data indicate that exhaust products from Be motors are essentially insoluble and hence present little health hazards so that safety can be assured by adherence to reasonable control standards. A critical review of existing restrictive measures is recommended in light of present toxicological information. (Author).

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