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Beryllium

Related Pages
RTECS #
DS1750000
CAS #
7440-41-7
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Updated
September 2018
Molecular Weight
9.01
Molecular Formula
Be
Synonyms
Beryllium (ACGIH:OSHA)
Beryllium-9
Glucinium
Glucinum
RCRA waste number P015

Mutation Data and Reference

System TestRoute/Organism/TissueDoseReference
DNA adduct/Escherichia coli30 µmol/LMUREAV 89,95,1981
DNA adductHeLa cell/human30 µmol/LMUREAV 89,95,1981
DNA adductAscites tumor/mouse30 µmol/LMUREAV 89,95,1981
DNA inhibitionintravenous/non-mammalian species30 µmol/kgPHMCAA 12,298,1970

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
intratracheal/rat lowest published toxic dose: 13 mg/kgTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Bronchogenic carcinoma		ENVRAL 21,63,1980
intravenous/rabbit lowest published toxic dose: 20 mg/kgTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Musculoskeletal: Tumors		LANCAO 1,463,1950

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 0.8 mg/m3/50MLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosis (interstitial)

Blood: Hemorrhage

Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation		HBTME* -,415,2007
inhalation/rat Lowest published lethal concentration: 0.8 mg/m3/50MHBTME* -,415,2007
intratracheal/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 51 mg/kgSTGNBT -,23,1999
intravenous/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 496 µg/kgLiver: Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), zonalLAINAW 15,176,1966

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/human lowest published toxic concentration: 2 µg/m3/8H/26W- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cyanosis

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		FEREAC 67,70707,2002
inhalation/mammal (species unspecified) lowest published toxic concentration: 20 ng/m3/1H/17W- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi

Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain

Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Phosphatases		STGNBT -,23,1999
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 20 ng/m3/8H/26W- intermittentBlood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)

Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain

Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Other proteins		STGNBT -,23,1999
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 4000 µg/kg/20W- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changesTOXID9 -,223,2008

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.00005 mg/m3DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-Confirmed human carcinogenDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 1,17,1972
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 23,143,1980
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 58,41,1993
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Limited EvidenceIMEMDT 23,143,1980
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 58,41,1993
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 100C,116,2012
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 100C,116,2012
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Group 1IMEMDT 58,41,1993
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Group 1IMEMDT 100C,116,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCRTXB2 1,235,1972
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW85CVA2 5,63,1970
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCTOXAO 6,497,1973
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWAEMBAP 40,239,1973
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWAJMEAZ 38,409,1965
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNTIS** CONF-691001
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWAMTODM 3,209,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWSCIEAS 201,298,1978
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 127,63,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTXAPA9 197,144,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWDIMON* 39,678,1993
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWENTOX* -,265,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 544,313,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWHTOPA* 1,701,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,73,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTXAPA9 258,151,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWEMMUEG 55,278,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWFCTOD7 86,298,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 770,106,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 770,170,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 272,8,2017

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3DTLVS* 3,24,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypttime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, Carcinogen, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIATRK-TMW 0.005 mg/m3;KZW 0.02 mg/m3, polishing, inhal, sen, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIATRK-TMW 0.002 mg/m3;KZW 0.008 mg/m3, inhal, sen, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, Carcinogen, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARKtime-weighted average 0.001 mg/m3 (dust), carc, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 0.001 mg/m3, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYceiling concentration 0.002 mg/m3, Carcinogen, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 0.001 mg(Be)/m3 (dust), carc, sen, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-INDIAtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, Carcinogen, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPANOccupational Exposure Limit 0.002 mg/m3, 2A carc, a1 sen, s2 sen, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICOtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, carcinogen, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 0.001 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLANDMAC(time-weighted average) 0.001 mg/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) 0.003 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIAtime-weighted average 0.001 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 0.003 mg/m3, Carcinogen, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, Carcinogen, Sen, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 0.002 mg/m3, carc 1, inhal, sen, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILANDtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 0.005 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINEStime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEYtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 0.002 mg/m3, carc, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Be)/m3CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Be)/m3CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Be)/m3CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Be)/m3CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO BERYLLIUM-airCarcinogen not to exceed 0.0005 mg(Be)/m3NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 11770; Number of Industries 22; Total Number of Facilities 421; Number of Occupations 29; Total Number of Employees Exposed 13938; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 739
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 11770; Number of Industries 8; Total Number of Facilities 344; Number of Occupations 17; Total Number of Employees Exposed 10510

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/93/182392/AS)
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: Carcinogenicity-mouse/rat
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Beryllium and compounds, as Be, 7102
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements by ICP, 7300
NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens,2016:Known to be a human carcinogen
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID125G
Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health