NIOSH Releases Draft Beryllium Document, Seeks Public Comment

Exposure to beryllium can cause serious and sometimes fatal health effects, so workplace exposure to the metal should be reduced as much as possible, a draft document posted Feb. 22 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says. The institute is seeking public comments on the draft document, NIOSH Alert: Preventing Chronic Beryllium Disease and Beryllium Sensitization.

Beryllium is used in many industries, NIOSH said, but exposure to the metal can lead to an allergic-type response called sensitization, leading to the respiratory disorder known as chronic beryllium disease. Development of the disease, the draft document says, requires exposure to beryllium and is affected by both job tasks and genetic factors.

The beryllium alert makes recommendations to both workers and employers. Employer recommendations include:

• Know the beryllium content of all materials in the workplace;
• Substitute less hazardous materials whenever feasible;
• Minimize the number of workers exposed to beryllium dusts, fumes, and suspensions;
• Keep airborne concentrations as low as possible;
• Inform workers about the risks of beryllium;
• Provide protective equipment as needed; and
• Conduct medical surveillance for sensitization.

The draft highlights the differences among several current exposure limits. NIOSH's recommended exposure limit is 0.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, while the permissible exposure limit from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 2 micrograms, the alert says. The action limit set by the Department of Energy for beryllium is 0.2 micrograms.

NIOSH's draft guidance for preventing beryllium-related health effects is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/120/pdfs/Beryllium_alert_29January2008.pdf.

For information on how to submit comments on the document go to: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/120/.