Guidelines for Metals and Metalloids in Ambient ... - ARCHIVE: Defra

Beryllium
power stations or waste incinerators – presumably because the latter
may be used for the disposal of the many electrical items (computers
and mobile phones) that contain beryllium. Since it is fairly easily
mobilised, beryllium in fly ash is a potential source of environmental
contamination; concentrations vary from 1.6–46 mg/kg (Kubiznáková,
1987; Stadnichenko et al., 1961). The highest ambient air levels have
been recorded near factories and the like where beryllium is processed
or beryllium-containing products are manufactured. Around a
beryllium processing plant in Loraine, Ohio, USA, Eisenbud et al.
(1949), found that within approximately 650 feet (212 metres) of the
plant measured concentrations of beryllium were as high as 460 ng/m 3 ,
falling to 30 ng/m 3 a mile (1.61 km) distant.
Table 4.1: Atmospheric concentrations of beryllium in polluted and unpolluted
environments, various countries.
Site
Rural USA
Suburban USA
Urban USA
Urban Germany
In vicinity of coal-fired power station, Spain
In vicinity of Beryllium processing plant,
USA.
In vicinity (400m) of Beryllium processing
plant, former USSR – no emission control
Beryllium
concentration (ng/m 3 )
0.03 – 0.06
0.04 – 0.07
up to 6.7
0.06 – 0.33
up to 1.61
up to 82.7
1000
Data source
Ross et al. (1977)
Ross et al. (1977)
ASTDR (2002)
Mueller (1979);
Freise and Israel
(1987)
Boix et al. (2001)
Sussman et al. (1959)
Benko et al. (1980)
Comparison between these and earlier measurements suggests a marked reduction
over time in levels of atmospheric contamination.
177. In the UK Harrison et al. (2003) measured beryllium in air
concentrations in Birmingham between October 2000 and January
2001 in the PM 10 size range at a roadside location. The average
concentration from 30 daily samples was 0.05 ng/m 3 , with individual
daily concentrations ranging from 0.01-0.15 ng/m 3 . The beryllium was
primarily within the finest size fraction sampled (< 0.2 µm
aerodynamic diameter).
4.1.3 Human exposures
178. Human exposure can occur via inhalation, ingestion or skin contact.
Inhalation represents the major pathway with regard to industrial
exposure but dermal exposure through penetration of skin can lead to
beryllium dermatitis and subcutaneous, granulomatous nodules. The
role of dermal exposure as a route of sensitisation and disease is
uncertain (Tinkle et al., 2003; Day et al., 2006).
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