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Beryllium dust

Airborne particulate from beryllium and beryllium compounds during occupational processing.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

chronic berylliosisweight losschest paincoughpulmonary insufficiencyeye irritationdermatitispotential occupational carcinogen

Evidence

NIOSH lists inhalation, skin, and eye contact routes for beryllium and beryllium compounds and reports chronic berylliosis, weight loss, chest pain, cough, pulmonary insufficiency, eye irritation, dermatitis, and a potential occupational carcinogen designation; target organs are eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Symptoms and target organs · 1
Exposure Routes: inhalation, skin and/or eye contact. Symptoms: Berylliosis (chronic exposure): anorexia, weight loss, lassitude (weakness, exhaustion), chest pain, cough, clubbing of fingers, cyanosis, pulmonary insufficiency; irritation eyes; dermatitis; [potential occupational carcinogen]. Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system.

A NIOSH health-hazard evaluation describes chronic beryllium disease, identifies beryllium as a human carcinogen in the report’s review, and emphasizes engineering controls and respiratory protection for exposed workers.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 9 · Health Effects — Chronic Beryllium Disease · 2
Chronic beryllium disease is a systemic granulomatous ... beryllium is a carcinogen ... beryllium is a human carcinogen.

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