-
The Annals of Occupational Hygiene Jan 2011The toxicity of soluble metal compounds is often different from that of the parent metal. Since no reliable data on acute toxicity, local effects, and mutagenicity of...
The toxicity of soluble metal compounds is often different from that of the parent metal. Since no reliable data on acute toxicity, local effects, and mutagenicity of beryllium metal have ever been generated, beryllium metal powder was tested according to the respective Organisation for Economical Co-Operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. Acute oral toxicity of beryllium metal was investigated in rats and local effects on skin and eye in rabbits. Skin-sensitizing properties were investigated in guinea pigs (maximization method). Basic knowledge about systemic bioavailability is important for the design of genotoxicity tests on poorly soluble substances. Therefore, it was necessary to experimentally compare the capacities of beryllium chloride and beryllium metal to form ions under simulated human lung conditions. Solubility of beryllium metal in artificial lung fluid was low, while solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid was moderate. Beryllium chloride dissolution kinetics were largely different, and thus, metal extracts were used in the in vitro genotoxicity tests. Genotoxicity was investigated in vitro in a bacterial reverse mutagenicity assay, a mammalian cell gene mutation assay, a mammalian cell chromosome aberration assay, and an unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) assay. In addition, cell transformation was tested in a Syrian hamster embryo cell assay, and potential inhibition of DNA repair was tested by modification of the UDS assay. Beryllium metal was found not to be mutagenic or clastogenic based on the experimental in vitro results. Furthermore, treatment with beryllium metal extracts did not induce DNA repair synthesis, indicative of no DNA-damaging potential of beryllium metal. A cell-transforming potential and a tendency to inhibit DNA repair when the cell is severely damaged by an external stimulus were observed. Beryllium metal was also found not to be a skin or eye irritant, not to be a skin sensitizer, and not to have relevant acute oral toxic properties.
Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Oral; Animals; Beryllium; Chromosome Aberrations; Cricetinae; Dermatitis, Contact; Eye; Genes, Bacterial; Guinea Pigs; Mice; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutation; Rabbits; Rats; Skin
PubMed: 21196457
DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/meq071 -
Journal of Occupational and... 2016Modification of an existing sequential extraction procedure for inorganic beryllium species in the particulate matter of emissions and in working areas is described. The...
Modification of an existing sequential extraction procedure for inorganic beryllium species in the particulate matter of emissions and in working areas is described. The speciation protocol was adapted to carry out beryllium extraction in closed-face cassette sampler to take wall deposits into account. This four-step sequential extraction procedure aims to separate beryllium salts, metal, and oxides from airborne particles for individual quantification. Characterization of the beryllium species according to their solubility in air samples may provide information relative to toxicity, which is potentially related to the different beryllium chemical forms. Beryllium salts (BeF(2), BeSO(4)), metallic beryllium (Bemet), and beryllium oxide (BeO) were first individually tested, and then tested in mixtures. Cassettes were spiked with these species and recovery rates were calculated. Quantitative analyses with matched matrix were performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Method Detection Limits (MDLs) were calculated for the four matrices used in the different extraction steps. In all cases, the MDL was below 4.2 ng/sample. This method is appropriate for assessing occupational exposure to beryllium as the lowest recommended threshold limit values are 0.01 µg.m(-3) in France([) (1) (]) and 0.05 µg.m(-3) in the USA.([ 2 ]) The protocol was then tested on samples from French factories where occupational beryllium exposure was suspected. Beryllium solubility was variable between factories and among the same workplace between different tasks.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Beryllium; Environmental Monitoring; France; Industry; Occupational Exposure; Particulate Matter; Solubility; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Workplace
PubMed: 26327570
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2015.1078467 -
Journal of Trace Elements and... Mar 1990The carcinogenicity of beryllium for the human organism by inhalation has been established. Biochemical properties of this strong carcinogenic element are related to its... (Review)
Review
The carcinogenicity of beryllium for the human organism by inhalation has been established. Biochemical properties of this strong carcinogenic element are related to its intake, transport and accumulation in the body, as well as to cell division, DNA synthesis, enzyme inhibition, and gene expression. Other biochemical properties of beryllium are associated with its adjuvant action. Diagnosis and possible treatment of beryllium toxicity are also outlined.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Beryllium; Carcinogens; Humans; Lung Diseases; Mutagens
PubMed: 2135953
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A Aug 2014The bond nature in beryllium dimer has been theoretically investigated using high-level ab initio methods. A series of ANO basis sets of increasing quality, going from...
The bond nature in beryllium dimer has been theoretically investigated using high-level ab initio methods. A series of ANO basis sets of increasing quality, going from sp to spdf ghi contractions, has been employed, combined with HF, CAS-SCF, CISD, and MRCI calculations with several different active spaces. The quality of these calculations has been checked by comparing the results with valence Full-CI calculations, performed with the same basis sets. It is shown that two quasi-degenerated partly occupied orbitals play a crucial role to give a qualitatively correct description of the bond. Their nature is similar to that of the edge orbitals that give rise to the quasi-degenerated singlet-triplet states in longer beryllium chains.
Topics: Beryllium; Dimerization; Quantum Theory
PubMed: 24866399
DOI: 10.1021/jp503145u -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Aug 2002The health consequences of beryllium (Be2+) exposure can be severe. Beryllium is responsible for a debilitating and potentially fatal lung disease, chronic beryllium...
The health consequences of beryllium (Be2+) exposure can be severe. Beryllium is responsible for a debilitating and potentially fatal lung disease, chronic beryllium disease (CBD) resulting from inhalation of beryllium particles. The US Code of Federal Register (CFR), 10 CFR 850, has established a limit of 0.2 microg beryllium/100 cm(2) as the maximum amount of beryllium allowable on surfaces to be released from beryllium work areas in Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. The analytical technique described herein reduces the time and cost of detecting beryllium on laboratory working surfaces substantially. The technique provides a positive colorimetric response to the presence of beryllium on a 30.5 cm x 30.5 cm (1 ft(2)) surface at a minimum detection of 0.2 microg/100 cm(2). The method has been validated to provide positive results for beryllium in the presence of excess iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, nickel, chromium and lead at concentrations 100 times that of beryllium and aluminum and uranium (UO2(2+)) at lesser concentrations. The colorimetric detection technique has also been validated to effectively detect solid forms of beryllium including Be(OH)2, BeCl2, BeSO4, beryllium metal and BeO.
Topics: Beryllium; Colorimetry; Environmental Monitoring; Time Factors
PubMed: 12137989
DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3894(02)00031-6 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2022Smart regulation, better regulation, responsive regulation, business-friendly regulation and voluntary 'self-regulation' have their origins deeply embedded in UK...
Smart regulation, better regulation, responsive regulation, business-friendly regulation and voluntary 'self-regulation' have their origins deeply embedded in UK policies in the 20th century. Their aim generally is to reduce workplace regulatory obligations on employers. This can overtly or covertly undermine efforts to improve working conditions. In the UK, the historical control and regulation of beryllium (a toxic metal used in industry) illustrates this problem, and as we illustrate through an exploratory analysis of original archival material and official publications. Soft touch regulation of the metal beryllium was developed within the UK semiconductor industry when tighter controls were proposed in the 1960s and 1970s. Historical industry, government and science responses to health and safety information about beryllium provide important lessons for current debates on occupational health and safety.
Topics: Beryllium; Industry; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Touch; United Kingdom
PubMed: 36232071
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912771 -
Toxicology and Industrial Health Feb 2010Beryllium (Be) is used in several forms: pure metal, beryllium oxide, and as an alloy with copper, aluminum, or nickel. Beryllium oxide, beryllium metal, and beryllium...
Beryllium (Be) is used in several forms: pure metal, beryllium oxide, and as an alloy with copper, aluminum, or nickel. Beryllium oxide, beryllium metal, and beryllium alloys are the main forms present in the workplace, with inhalation being the primary route of exposure. Cases of workers with sensitization or chronic beryllium disease challenge the scientific community for a better understanding of Be toxicity. Therefore, a toxicological inhalation study using a murine model was performed in our laboratory in order to identify the toxic effects related to different particle sizes and chemical forms of Be. This article attempts to provide information regarding the relative effectiveness of the environmental monitoring and exposure protection program that was enacted to protect staff (students and researchers) in this controlled animal beryllium inhalation exposure experiment. This includes specific attention to particle migration control through intensive housekeeping and systematic airborne and surface monitoring. Results show that the protective measures applied during this research have been effective. The highest airborne Be concentration in the laboratory was less than one-tenth of the Quebec OEL (occupational exposure limit) of 0.15 microg/m(3). Considering the protection factor of 10(3) of the powered air-purifying respirator used in this research, the average exposure level would be 0.03 x 10(- 4) microg/m(3), which is extremely low. Moreover, with the exception of one value, all average Be concentrations on surfaces were below the Quebec Standard guideline level of 3 microg/100 cm(2) for Be contamination. Finally, all beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests for the staff were not higher than controls.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Animals; Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; Beryllium; Environmental Monitoring; Inhalation Exposure; Laboratories; Mice; Models, Animal; Toxicity Tests
PubMed: 20056744
DOI: 10.1177/0748233709359276 -
Journal of Environmental Monitoring :... Jun 2006Standardized conventions governing the fractions of airborne particles that can penetrate the human head airways, the thoracic airways and the alveolar spaces have been... (Review)
Review
Standardized conventions governing the fractions of airborne particles that can penetrate the human head airways, the thoracic airways and the alveolar spaces have been internationally (although not universally) adopted. Several agencies involved in setting limit values for occupational exposure concentrations have taken these conventions into account when considering the appropriate standard for specific chemicals, in order to ensure the standards are biologically relevant. A convention is selected based on the characteristic health effects, and forms the basis of measurement against the limiting concentration value. In order to assess exposure for comparison to this metric or any other purposes, it is necessary to choose a sampler whose performance matches the convention, and protocols have been developed and used to test sampler performance. Several aerosol sampling devices are available, nominally at least, for each of the conventions. Some considerations important to the sampling of airborne particles containing beryllium with regard to the sampling conventions, the test protocols and sampler performance are discussed.
Topics: Aerosols; Beryllium; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Occupational Exposure; Workplace
PubMed: 16767225
DOI: 10.1039/b600924g -
Environmental Health Perspectives Apr 2006
Topics: Beryllium; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Sensitivity and Specificity; United States; United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PubMed: 16581526
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.114-a213a -
Chemosphere May 2011Dissolution of a lung burden of poorly soluble beryllium particles is hypothesized to be necessary for development of chronic beryllium lung disease (CBD) in humans. As...
Dissolution of a lung burden of poorly soluble beryllium particles is hypothesized to be necessary for development of chronic beryllium lung disease (CBD) in humans. As such, particle dissolution rate must be sufficient to activate the lung immune response and dissolution lifetime sufficient to maintain chronic inflammation for months to years to support development of disease. The purpose of this research was to investigate the hypothesis that poorly soluble beryllium compounds release ions via dissolution in lung fluid. Dissolution kinetics of 17 poorly soluble particulate beryllium materials that span extraction through ceramics machining (ores, hydroxide, metal, copper-beryllium [CuBe] fume, oxides) and three CuBe alloy reference materials (chips, solid block) were measured over 31 d using artificial lung alveolar macrophage phagolysosomal fluid (pH 4.5). Differences in beryllium-containing particle physicochemical properties translated into differences in dissolution rates and lifetimes in artificial phagolysosomal fluid. Among all materials, dissolution rate constant values ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-10)gcm(-2)d(-1) and half-times ranged from tens to thousands of days. The presence of magnesium trisilicate in some beryllium oxide materials may have slowed dissolution rates. Materials associated with elevated prevalence of CBD had faster beryllium dissolution rates [10(-7)-10(-8)gcm(-2)d(-1)] than materials not associated with elevated prevalence (p<0.05).
Topics: Beryllium; Humans; Macrophages; Particle Size; Phagosomes; Pulmonary Alveoli
PubMed: 21251696
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.12.088