United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-9 5-002 k-T
October 1995
&EPA
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Beryllium
CHEMICAL/ PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CAS NUMBER: 7440-41-7
COLOR/ FORM/ODOR: Beryllium is a grayish metal which exists in
nature only in combined forms, and in some precious stones
such as emeralds, aquamarine.
SOIL SORPTION COEFFICIENT: N/A ,
BIOCONCENTRATION FACTOR: Nitrate BCF = 100 under constant
exposure: not expected to bioaccumulate. : '
SOLUBILITIES:
chloride
fluoride
hydroxide
oxide
phosphate
sulfate-
very soluble
very soluble
slightly sol. in dil. alkali
.insoluble .
poorly soluble
insol. in cold water
COMMON ORES: . Major commercial ore is bertrandite; oxide-
bromellite; others: phenacite, pegmatite bodies.
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
MCLG: 0.004 mg/l
MCL: 0.004 mg/l
HAL(child): 1-to 10-day: 30 mg/L
Longer-term: 4 mg/L
HEALTH EFFECTS SUMMARY
\
Acute: EPA has found beryllium to potentially cause
the following health effects from acute exposures at
levels above the MCL: inhalation may cause acute chemi-
cal pneumonitis; less toxic via oral exposure.
Short-term exposures in drinking water considered
"safe" for a 10-kg (22 Ib.) child consuming one liter of
water per day: up to a ten-day exposure to 30 mg/L; a
longer-term exposure (upto 7 years) to 4 mg/L.
Chronic: Beryllium has the potential to cause the
following health effects from long-term exposures at
levels above the MCL: damage to bones and lungs.
Cancer: There is limited evidence that beryllium may
cause cancer from lifetime exposures at levels above
the MCL.
USAGE PATTERNS
Production of beryllium metal increased during the
1980s: from almost 300,000 Ibs. in 1982 to 490,000 Ibs
in 1986. In 1986, it was estimated that the greatest use
bf beryllium is as an alloy and metal in nuclear reactors
and aerospace applications, which consumed 40% of all
production in 1986. Consumption for other uses: as an
alloy and oxide in electrical equipment, 35%; as an alloy
and oxide in electronic components, 17%; and as com-
pounds and metal in other applications, 8%.
Beryllium metal is used as a hardener in alloys; in
space vehicles, navigation and optical equipment, and
missile fuel. The chloride is used as a catalyst and
intermediate in chemical manufacture. The oxide is used
in glass/ceramics; as a component of nuclear fuels and
moderators, electric heat sinks; electrical insulators; mi-
crowave oven components; gyroscopes; military vehicle
armor; rocket nozzles; crucibles; thermocouple tubing;
laser structural components.
Toxic RELEASE INVENTORY -
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND:
1987 TO 1993
Water
TOTALS (in pounds) 1,314
Top Five States *
PA 653
OH 490
Ml 5
TX 0
MN ' . 142
'Major Industries*
Copper rolling, drawing 405
Nonferrous metal smelting 481
. Nonferrous rolling, drawing 4
Aluminum foundries 5
Blast furnaces, steelworks 250
Petroleum refining 142
Land
341,721
174,250
166,292
1.000
174
0
180,502
151,790
8,000
1.000
250
174
October1995
Technical Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
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RELEASE PATTERNS
Beryllium is concentrated in silicate minerals relative to
sulfides and in feldspar minerals relative to
ferromagnesium minerals. T :e greatest known naturally
occurring concentrations of beryllium are found in certain
pegmatite bodies. Certain fossil fuels contain beryllium
compounds, perhaps accounting for its presence in some
community air samples. Beryllium is not likely to be found
in natural water above trace levels due to the insolubility
of oxides and hydroxides at the normal pH range. It has
been reported to occur in US drinking water at 0.01 to 0.7
ug/L
Beryllium enters the environment principally from coal
combustion. Beryllium content of the ashes and waste-
water from a power plant suggest that secondary long
term beryllium pollution emerges from the slag and ash
dumps. It is also found in discharges from other industrial
and municipal operations. Rocket exhaust products also
consist of its compounds, principally the oxide, fluoride
and chloride.
From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release
Inventory beryllium releases to land and water totalled
over 340,000 Ibs., of which most was to land, these
releases were primarily from copper rolling and drawing
industries which use it as a hardener in alloys. The largest
releases occurred in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE ^
There is little information available on the environmen-
tal fate of beryllium and its compounds. Beryllium com-
pounds of very low water solubility appear to predomi-
nate in soils. Leaching and transport through soils to
ground water appears unlikely to be of concern. Erosion
and bulk transport of soil may bring beryllium to surface
waters, but most likely in participate ratherthan dissolved
form.
OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
MONITORING:
- FOR GROUND WATER SOURCES:
INITIAL FREQUENCY- 1 sample once every 3 years
REPEAT FREQUENCY- If no detections for 3 rounds, once every 9 years
- FOR SURFACE WATER SOURCES: .'
. INITIAL FREQUENCY- 1 sample annually
REPEAT FREQUENCY- If no detections for 3 rounds, once every 9 years
- TRIGGERS - If detect at > 0.004 mg/U, sample quarterly.
METHOD NUMBERS
210.2
200J; 200.8; 200.9
D3645-84B
3113:3120
ANALYSIS:
REFERENCE SOURCE
EPA 600/4-79-020
NTISPB 91 -231498
ASTM
Standard Methods
TREATMENT
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Activated Alumina; Coagulation/filtration; Ion Exchange, Lime Softening
Reverse Osmosis
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
A EPA can provide further regulatory and other general information:
• EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - 800/426-4791
A Other sources of lexicological and environmental fate data include:
• Toxic Substance Control Act Information Line - 202/554-1404
• Toxics Release Inventory, National Library of Medicine - 301/496-6531
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - 404/639-6000
October 1995
Technical Version
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