Physicochemical Characteristics of Aerosol Particles Generated During the Milling of Beryllium Silicate Ores: Implications for Risk Assessment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chipera SJ ; Day, Gregory A. ; Dickerson RM ; Duling, Matthew G. ; Lawrence, Robert B. ; Sabey P ; Sbarra DC ; Scripsick RC ; Stanton, Marcia L. ; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B.
• Description:
  Inhalation of beryllium dusts generated during milling of ores and cutting of beryl-containing gemstones is associated with development of beryllium sensitization and low prevalence of chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Inhalation of beryllium aerosols generated during primary beryllium production and machining of the metal, alloys, and ceramics are associated with sensitization and high rates of CBD, despite similar airborne beryllium mass concentrations among these industries. Understanding the physicochemical properties of exposure aerosols may help to understand the differential immunopathologic mechanisms of sensitization and CBD and lead to more biologically relevant exposure standards. Properties of aerosols generated during the industrial milling of bertrandite and beryl ores were evaluated. Airborne beryllium mass concentrations among work areas ranged from 0.001 µg/m3 (beryl ore grinding) to 2.1 µg/m3 (beryl ore crushing). Respirable mass fractions of airborne beryllium-containing particles were < 20% in low-energy input operation areas (ore crushing, hydroxide product drumming) and > 80% in high-energy input areas (beryl melting, beryl grinding). Particle specific surface area decreased with processing from feedstock ores to drumming final product beryllium hydroxide. Among work areas, beryllium was identified in three crystalline forms: beryl, poorly crystalline beryllium oxide, and beryllium hydroxide. In comparison to aerosols generated by high-CBD risk primary production processes, aerosol particles encountered during milling had similar mass concentrations, generally lower number concentrations and surface area, and contained no identifiable highly crystalline beryllium oxide. One possible explanation for the apparent low prevalence of CBD among workers exposed to beryllium mineral dusts may be that characteristics of the exposure material do not contribute to the development of lung burdens sufficient for progression from sensitization to CBD. In comparison to high-CBD risk exposures where the chemical nature of aerosol particles may confer higher bioavailability, respirable ore dusts likely confer considerably less. While finished product beryllium hydroxide particles may confer bioavailability similar to that of high-CBD risk aerosols, physical exposure factors (i.e., large particle sizes) may limit development of alveolar lung burdens. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Aluminum Silicates Beryllium Chemistry Dust Environmental Monitoring Hypersensitivity Irritants Lung Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Safety

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• Keywords:
  Aerosol-generators Aerosol-particles Analytical-methods Beryllium-compounds Beryllium-disease Chemical-composition Chemical-hypersensitivity Chemical-processing Exposure-assessment Immune-system Lung-burden Lung-function Milling-industry Particle-aerodynamics Physiological-chemistry Respirable-dust Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Risk-analysis Sensitization Silicates Statistical-analysis

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• ISSN:
  1528-7394
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New Mexico ; Oklahoma ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Utah ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  71
• Issue:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034608
• Citation:
  J Toxicol Environ Health A 2008 Jan; 71(22):1468-1481
• Contact Point Address:
  Aleksandr B. Stefaniak, PhD, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  AStefaniak@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Bertrandite (Be4(OH)2O(SiO3)2) (CAS RN 12161-82-9) ; Beryl (Al2Be3(SiO3)6) (CAS RN 1302-52-9) ; Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7) ; Beryllium carbonate (CAS RN 13106-47-3) ; Beryllium hydroxide (CAS RN 13327-32-7) ; Beryllium oxide (CAS RN 1304-56-9) ; Beryllium sulfate (CAS RN 13510-49-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2ffa77a426c1774ae8f6e4a36b5a49bda36647c4d6c15567c74e5aeab1fffdafc37a5b96d0883fd0676e83030dc6cf084744743d385c2f24e065efe3d07593e7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/186756/cdc_186756_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.08 MB ]