Beryllium Hydroxide

H350: May cause cancer [Danger Carcinogenicity]

H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

P203, P260, P264, P270, P280, P318, P319, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

If material involved in fire: Extinguish fire using agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. (Material itself does not burn or burns with difficulty.) Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

The insidious nature of the physiological action of beryllium even from minute exposures ... requires constant vigilance to minimize exposure, particularly to ... beryllium hydroxide ...

If material not involved in fire: Keep material out of water sources and sewers. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

Personnel protection: Avoid breathing dusts, and fumes from burning material. Keep upwind. Avoid bodily contact with the material. ... Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water. ... /Beryllium compound, NOS/

The worker should wash daily at the end of each work shift, and prior to eating, drinking, smoking, etc. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for BERYLLIUM HYDROXIDE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

0.00072 [mg/m3]

0.025 [mg/m3]

0.10 [mg/m3]

0.002 [mg/m3], as Be, Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.005 mg/m3, as Be(0.025 mg/m3,as Be,for 30 min.peak per 8-hr shift)

4.0 [mg/m3], as Be

NIOSH considers beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be) to be a potential occupational carcinogen. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

0.00005 [mg/m3], as Be, inhalable fraction

8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 0.00005 mg/cu m (inhalable fraction); Skin. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

Excursion Limit Recommendation: Excursions in worker exposure levels may exceed 3 times the TLV-TWA for no more than a total of 30 minutes during a work day, and under no circumstances should they exceed 5 times the TLV-TWA, provided that the TLV-TWA is not exceeded. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

A1: Confirmed human carcinogen. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

2013 Notice of Intended Changes (NIC): Updates of Sensitizer (SEN) Notations to Dermal Sensitizer (DSEN) and/or Respiratory Sensitizer (RSEN). The following substances are placed on the NIC for review of this notation only. Substance: Beryllium and compounds, as Be; Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 0.00005 mg/cu m (Inhalable fraction); Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL): None; Notations: Skin; Dermal Sensitization (DSEN), Respiratory Sensitization (RSEN); A1: Confirmed human carcinogen.; Molecular Weight: 9.01; TLV Basis: Beryllium sensitization; Beryllium disease (berylliosis). /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

Chronic Oral: 0.002 mg/kg/day (L134)

Respirator Recommendations: At concentrations above the NIOSH REL, or where there is no REL, at any detectable concentration: /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/[Table#1099]

Respirator Recommendations: Escape: /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/ [Table#1100]

Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Eyewash fountains should be provided in areas where there is any possibility that workers could be exposed to the substances; this is irrespective of the recommendations involving the wearing of eye protection. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Wet Solid

White solid; Insoluble in water; [Hawley] White powder; [MSDSonline] Very slightly soluble in water; [ACGIH]

White powder or crystals (alpha); colorless tetrahedral crystals (beta)

Amorphous powder or crystals

White powder

Approximately 200 °C (alpha); decomposes at 138 °C (beta)

Slightly soluble in water, alkali solutions; soluble in acid solutions (alpha)

Insoluble in water; soluble in acid solutions, alkali solutions (beta)

Very slightly soluble in dilute alkali, water; soluble in hot concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, hot concentrated acids

Fresh precipitate dissolves in sodium and potassium hydroxide and ammonium carbonate solutions, but it ages quickly and becomes less and less soluble. Beryllium hydroxide dissolves in aqueous beryllium sulfate to form basic sulfates.

1.92 g/cu cm (alpha)

1.92 @25 °C

Amphoteric

Decomposes to the oxide at 138 °C

Metals -> Beryllium Compounds, Inorganic

Carcinogens

Acids, caustics, chlorinated hydrocarbons, oxidizers, molten lithium. /Beryllium and beryllium compounds (as Be)/

Once in the body, beryllium acts as a hapten and interacts with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DP presenting cells in the lungs, becoming physically associated with a major histocompatability (MHC) class II molecule. This MHC class II-beryllium-peptide complex is recognized by the T lymphocyte receptor, triggering CD4+ T lymphocyte activation and proliferation. The resulting inflammatory response is a cell-mediated process orchestrated by cytokines and results in the formation of (usually pulmonary) granulomas. Beryllium's toxicity may be controlled by the iron-storage protein ferritin, which sequesters beryllium by binding it and preventing it from interacting with other enzymes. (L25, A37, A91)

There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds cause cancer of the lung. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). /Beryllium and beryllium compounds/

A1; Confirmed human carcinogen. /Beryllium and compounds, as Be/

Beryllium and beryllium compounds are known to be human carcinogens based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans. /Beryllium and compounds/

1, carcinogenic to humans. (L135)

Acute inhalation of a high level of beryllium can results in a pneumonia-like condition called acute beryllium disease. Chronic inhalation of beryllium can caused an inflammatory reaction in the respiratory system called chronic beryllium disease. Chronic beryllium disease may result in anorexia and weight loss, as well as right side heart enlargement and heart disease in advanced cases. Chronic exposure can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Skin contact with beryllium results in contact dermatitus. (L24, L25)

Inhalation (L24)

Chronic beryllium disease causes fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, and a persistent dry cough. (L24, L25)

Fibrogenic - Inducing tissue injury and fibrosis (scarring).

Chronic beryllium disease is treated with immunosuppressive medicines, usually of the glucocorticoid class. (L24)

Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Beryllium and Related Compounds/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool. Administer activated charcoal ... . /Beryllium and Related Compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Beryllium and Related Compounds/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Rat alveolar cell lesions induced by intratracheal injection of beryllium hydroxide were entirely restored 20 days after initial injection. Beryllium hydroxide inhibited DNA synthesis in free alveolar macrophages and transpeptal cellular flow was evidenced.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Chronic Exposure or Carcinogenicity/ A group of 35 female Wistar-derived rats, three months old, received single intratracheal instillations of 50 ug Be as beryllium hydroxide suspended in distilled water, followed 10 months later by a second instillation of 25 ug. A group of 35 controls received a single intratracheal instillation of 2.5 mg chrysotile asbestos. Both materials were suspended in 0.4 mL distilled water, and the instillation was followed by 0.2 mL distilled water. Of the beryllium hydroxide-treated rats sacrificed at 19 months of age, 13/25 had pulmonary tumors (six adenomas and seven adenocarcinomas); one rat had both an epidermoid carcinoma and an adenocarcinoma. The lungs of all of the animals instilled with chrysotile had small and occasionally larger scars; adenomas occurred in two rats and an adenocarcinoma in a third. Metaplastic foci were found in the lungs of 5% of the chrysotile-treated group, whereas in 90% of the animals instilled with beryllium most of the normal lung tissue was replaced by metaplastic foci and tumors.

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, hardness 100 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen > or =7.0 mg/L; Concentration: 236000 ug/L for 48 hr /Total Be ion/

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, hardness 200 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen > or =7.0 mg/L; Concentration: 538000 ug/L for 48 hr /Total Be ion/

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, hardness 150 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen > or =6.5 mg/L; Concentration: 487000 ug/L for 48 hr /Total Be ion/

LC50; Species: Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow); Conditions: static; Concentration: 150 ug/L for 96 hr, soft water; 20,000 ug/L for 96 hr, hard water /Beryllium ion/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for BERYLLIUM HYDROXIDE (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

AQUATIC FATE: In aqueous solution, beryllium exhibits only the +2 oxidation state(1). Soluble beryllium salts are hydrolyzed to form insoluble beryllium hydroxides(2). Under typical environmental conditions, the hydroxo-complex BeOH+ and Be2+, are expected to be the dominant dissolved species(1). Be(OH)2 is expected to precipitate from water given its low solubility at the pH range of most natural systems(1).

Beryllium is not likely to be found in natural water in greater than trace amt, because of the relative insolubility of beryllium oxides & hydroxides @ normal ph range of such water.

According to the 2006 TSCA Inventory Update Reporting data, the number of persons reasonably likely to be exposed in the industrial manufacturing, processing, and use of beryllium hydroxide is 1 to 99; the data may be greatly underestimated(1).

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, hardness 100 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen > or =7.0 mg/L; Concentration: 236000 ug/L for 48 hr /Total Be ion/

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, hardness 200 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen > or =7.0 mg/L; Concentration: 538000 ug/L for 48 hr /Total Be ion/

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, hardness 150 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen > or =6.5 mg/L; Concentration: 487000 ug/L for 48 hr /Total Be ion/

LC50; Species: Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow); Conditions: static; Concentration: 150 ug/L for 96 hr, soft water; 20,000 ug/L for 96 hr, hard water /Beryllium ion/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for BERYLLIUM HYDROXIDE (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

AQUATIC FATE: In aqueous solution, beryllium exhibits only the +2 oxidation state(1). Soluble beryllium salts are hydrolyzed to form insoluble beryllium hydroxides(2). Under typical environmental conditions, the hydroxo-complex BeOH+ and Be2+, are expected to be the dominant dissolved species(1). Be(OH)2 is expected to precipitate from water given its low solubility at the pH range of most natural systems(1).

Beryllium is not likely to be found in natural water in greater than trace amt, because of the relative insolubility of beryllium oxides & hydroxides @ normal ph range of such water.

According to the 2006 TSCA Inventory Update Reporting data, the number of persons reasonably likely to be exposed in the industrial manufacturing, processing, and use of beryllium hydroxide is 1 to 99; the data may be greatly underestimated(1).

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Health: TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact with material may cause severe injury or death. Contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Avoid any skin contact. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may be corrosive and/or toxic and cause pollution. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Fire or Explosion: Non-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may decompose upon heating to produce corrosive and/or toxic fumes. Some are oxidizers and may ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Public Safety: CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number ... As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids. Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind. Keep out of low areas. Ventilate enclosed areas. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

/GUIDE 154: SUBSTANCES - TOXIC AND/OR CORROSIVE (NON-COMBUSTIBLE)/ Protective Clothing: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer. It may provide little or no thermal protection. Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides limited protection in fire situations ONLY; it is not effective in spill situations where direct contact with the substance is possible. /Beryllium compound, NOS/

For more DOT Emergency Guidelines (Complete) data for BERYLLIUM HYDROXIDE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

UN 1566; Beryllium compounds, NOS

IMO 6.1; Beryllium compounds, NOS

49 233 15; Beryllium hydroxide

49 232 16; Beryllium compounds, not otherwise specified

No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that person is registered in conformance ... and the hazardous material is properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations are published by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board pursuant to IATA Resolutions 618 and 619 and constitute a manual of industry carrier regulations to be followed by all IATA Member airlines when transporting hazardous materials. /Beryllium compounds, NOS/

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code lays down basic principles for transporting hazardous chemicals. Detailed recommendations for individual substances and a number of recommendations for good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. A general index of technical names has also been compiled. This index should always be consulted when attempting to locate the appropriate procedures to be used when shipping any substance or article. /Beryllium compound, NOS/