V
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Emergency Overview: If this material is involved in a fire, pressure-demand self-contained breathing apparatus and protective
clothing must be worn by persons potentially exposed to the metal fumes or airborne particulate.
Primary Routes of Exposure:
Inhalation: An exposure to airborne beryllium in excess of the occupational standard can occur when sintering, machining, grinding,
sanding, abrasive cutting, polishing, laser scribing and trimming, chemical etching, crushing, or otherwise abrading the surface of this
material in a manner which generates finely divided particles.
Volatile beryllium hydroxide can be formed when firing solid BeO parts at temperature greater than 900
o
C in a moist
atmosphere such as in a hydrogen atmosphere sintering furnace.
Machining operations conducted under a flood of liquid coolant usually require complete hooded containment and local
exhaust ventilation. Openings into the hood must be baffled to prevent release of fast moving particles. The cycling through a
machine of liquid lubricant/coolant containing finely divided beryllium in suspension can result in the concentration building to a
point where the particulate may become airborne during use. The coolant reservoir should be enclosed and ventilated. A coolant
filtering system is recommended.
The Potential for Exposure Also May Occur During Repair or Maintenance Activities on Contaminated Equipment Such as:
furnace rebuilding, maintenance or repair of air cleaning equipment, structural renovation, etc.
Ingestion: There are no known cases of illness resulting from ingestion of this material. Ingestion can occur from hand, clothing,
food, and drink contact with metal dust, fume or powder during hand to mouth activities such as eating, drinking, smoking, nail
biting, etc. This product is not intended for internal consumption. As a standard hygiene practice, hands should be washed before
eating or smoking.
Skin: Skin abrasion may cause irritation. Imbedded material may lead to localized granuloma. The beryllium in this material is in an
insoluble form and does not pose a potential for an allergic dermal response.
Eyes: Injury can result form particulate irritation or mechanical injury to the eyes by dust or particulate. Exposure may result from
direct contact with airborne particulate (chips, dust, or powder) or contact to the eye if contaminated hands or clothing.
Effects of Overexposure:
Acute: (immediate or near-term health effects): The beryllium fraction of this product is insoluble and does not cause acute beryl-
lium disease. The beryllium in this product does not pose a potential for allergic dermal response.
Chronic: (long-term health effects): Inhaling dust fumes containing beryllium may cause serious, chronic lung disease called
Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) in some individuals. Over time lung disease can be fatal. Symptoms may include cough, chest
pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. Long-term effects may include loss of lung function, fibrosis, or
subsequent secondary effects on the heart with eventual permanent impairment. Chronic beryllium disease is a hypersensitivity of
allergic condition in which tissues of the lungs become inflamed with a cellular nodular reaction. This inflammation, sometimes with
accompanying fibrosis, may restrict the exchange of oxygen between the lungs and the bloodstream. This allergic response to
beryllium is limited to susceptible studies and animal experimentation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the
National Toxicology Program lists beryllium as a carcinogen.
Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: Persons with impaired pulmonary function, airway diseases, or condi-
tions such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc. may incur further impairment if dust of fume are inhaled. If prior damage
or disease to the neurological (nervous), circulatory, hematologic (blood), or urinary (kidney) systems has occurred, proper screening
or examinations should be conducted on individuals who may be exposed to further risk where handling and use of this material may
cause exposure.
EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PRODCEDURES:
INHALATION: Breathing difficulty cause by inhalation of dust or fume requires immediate removal to fresh air. There are no
known cases in which a person stopped breathing as a result of exposure. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration and
obtain medical help.