Public Hearing on the Occupational Standard for Beryllium, Statement of Edward J. Baier, Deputy Director, NIOSH

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  A public statement on the effects of occupational exposure to beryllium (7440417) (Be) is reviewed. The statement, made in connection with hearings on the adoption of a permanent OSHA standard for Be, reports on the incidence of nonneoplastic respiratory diseases induced by Be. Current NIOSH standard for occupational exposure to Be has been set at 0.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Be carcinogenicity is discussed. It is noted that no other group of compounds gives as consistent a carcinogenic response in animal studies as Be does. At least 20 Be compounds have been tested for carcinogenicity in a wide variety of animal species; they have all been proven carcinogenic. Epidemiological studies are discussed. In 1970, lung cancer mortality rate among Be workers was 284.3 per 100,000, compared to 77.7 per 100,000 during 1937 to 1948. Analytical methods for determining Be are summarized. Engineering controls and work practices for minimizing Be exposure are discussed. Engineering controls may include new process systems, redesign of existing processes to remove the worker from the process, and local exhaust ventilation with a balanced makeup supply. Recommended work practices include vacuum or water spray clean up methods, tight fitting Be transfer operations, and procedures for decontamination of equipment. If engineering and work practice controls do not reduce Be exposure to or below the standard, respirators should be worn. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Epidemiology Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Lung Diseases Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Safety Management
• Keywords:
  Industrial-hazards Lung-disorders Medical-monitoring Occupational-exposure Safety-measures Safety-research
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Standards ; Testimony
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00133209
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB83-182378
• Citation:
  Public Hearing on the Occupational Standard for Beryllium, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, August 19, 1977, 1977 Aug; :1-8
• CAS Registry Number:
  Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1977
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Public Hearing on the Occupational Standard for Beryllium, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, August 19, 1977, 8 pages, 30 references
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:71bebfb6ee834234cbed075902329a7e80e80baf1864e2f0d04a92cf5b6dea79bba9f1694a799a746ef5903751608e8afc841420fe77d456634bd341d2231f5d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/209453/cdc_209453_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 529.96 KB ]