Toxicity beryllium

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Case studies in environmental medicine Beryllium toxicity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA, 1993. 

Treatment of the acute disease includes bed rest, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation when needed, and corticosteroids. Chelation has been used to treat beryllium toxicity however, no one agent is recommended over another. Aurin tricarboxylic acid has been used to protect primates from beryllium overdose, but human trials have not been conducted. 

Luke MZ, Hamilton L, Hollocher TC (1975) Beryllium-induced misincorporation by a DNA-polymerase a possible factor in beryllium toxicity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 62 497-501... 

Beryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with the greatest of care. Beryllium and its compounds should not be tasted to verify the sweetish nature of beryllium (as did early experimenters). The metal, its alloys, and its salts can be handled if certain work codes are observed, but no attempt should be made to work with beryllium before becoming familiar with proper safeguards. 

Beryllium Hydride. BeryUium hydride [13597-97-2] is an amorphous, colorless, highly toxic polymeric soHd (H = 18.3%) that is stable to water but hydroly2ed by acid (8). It is insoluble in organic solvents but reacts with tertiary amines at 160°C to form stable adducts, eg, (R3N-BeH2 )2 (9). It is prepared by continuous thermal decomposition of a di-/-butylberylhum-ethyl ether complex in a boiling hydrocarbon (10). 

Although beryllium oxide [1304-56-9] is in many ways superior to most commonly used alumina-based ceramics, the principal drawback of beryUia-based ceramics is their toxicity thus they should be handled with care. The thermal conductivity of beryUia is roughly about 10 times that of commonly used alumina-based materials (5). BeryUia [1304-56-9] has a lower dielectric constant, a lower coefficient of thermal expansion, and slightly less strength than alumina. Aluminum nitride materials have begun to appear as alternatives to beryUia. Aluminum nitride [24304-00-5] has a thermal conductivity comparable to that of beryUia, but deteriorates less with temperature the thermal conductivity of aluminum nitride can, theoreticaUy, be raised to over 300 W/(m-K) (6). The dielectric constant of aluminum nitride is comparable to that of alumina, but the coefficient of thermal expansion is lower. 

No fewer than 14 pure metals have densities se4.5 Mg (see Table 10.1). Of these, titanium, aluminium and magnesium are in common use as structural materials. Beryllium is difficult to work and is toxic, but it is used in moderate quantities for heat shields and structural members in rockets. Lithium is used as an alloying element in aluminium to lower its density and save weight on airframes. Yttrium has an excellent set of properties and, although scarce, may eventually find applications in the nuclear-powered aircraft project. But the majority are unsuitable for structural use because they are chemically reactive or have low melting points." ... 

Toxic inorganic substances e.g. Lead, manganese, cadmium, antimony, beryllium, mercury arsenic phosphorus selenium and sulphur compounds, fluorides. 

The salts of the heavy metals beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc are all of high eco-toxicity. For example, the toxicity of some heavy metals to rainbow trout is demonstrated in Table 16.13 coarse fish are somewhat more resistant. 

Fire Hazards - Flash Point Not pertinent. This is a combustible solid Flammable Limits in Air (%) Not pertinent Fire Extinguishing Agents Graphite, sand, or any other inert dry powder Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To Be Used Water Special Hazards of Combustion Products Combustion results in beryllium oxide fumes whieh are toxic to inhalation Behavior in Fire Powder may form explosive mixture in air Ignition Temperature (deg. F) Not pertinent Electrical Hazard Not pertinent Burning Rate Not pertinent. 

Beryllium Be High toxicity, long-term effects... 

Although modern chemistry allows development of even more effective rocket propellants, energy efficiency is not the only consideration factor. For example, fluorine and its derivatives arc better oxidizers than oxygen, but their extreme toxicity make them environmentally dangerous. The same concerns prevent the use of beryllium hydride—an excellent fuel that combines high density with the energy efficiency comparable to liquid hydrogen. 

Two other factors are noteworthy the deleterious effects on chemical and mechanical properties of small amounts of impurities residual from extraction of the metal, and its toxicity. The first of these factors is obviated by vacuum melting the raw metal (for purification) as an essential prerequisite to further processing. The toxicity of beryllium is essentially a pulmonary problem and great care must be taken in handling the finely divided metal or its compounds. In practice, this type of activity is usually carried out under well-ventilated conditions. Certain tolerance levels for atmospheric beryllium are now internationally accepted and merit careful study before work on beryllium is embarked upon. 

The early promise of wide applications for beryllium has not materialised, despite improvements in purity and more efficient means of consolidation such as isostatic hot pressing, because of the metal s toxicity, brittleness and cost. It is now chiefly of interest in the specialised fields of aerospace and nuclear applications. BrushWellman is currently the sole commercial primary producer of beryllium metal in the West. 

Procedure. Prepare a solution containing 10 jug of beryllium in 50 mL. (CARE Beryllium compounds are toxic.) Use beryllium sulphate, BeS04,4H20. To... 

Beryllium and its compounds are toxic and care should be taken to avoid inhalation of dusts or contact with eyes and skin. 

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