Considerations for the development of health-based surface dust cleanup criteria for beryllium

Abstract

The exposure–response patterns with beryllium sensitization (BeS), chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and lung cancer are influenced by a number of biological and physicochemical factors. Recent studies have suggested dermal exposure as a pathway for BeS. In light of the current non-health-based DOE Beryllium Rule surface criteria, the feasibility of deriving a human health-based surface dust cleanup criteria (SDCC) for beryllium was assessed based on toxicology and health risk factors via all potential routes of exposure. Beryllium-specific and general exposure factors were evaluated, including (1) beryllium physicochemical characteristics, bioavailability and influence on disease prevalence, and (2) chemical dissipation, resuspension and transfer. SDCC for non-cancer (SDCC_NC) and cancer (SDCC_CA) endpoints were derived from a combination of modern methods applied for occupational, residential and building reentry surface dust criteria. The most conservative SDCC_NC estimates were derived for dermal exposure (5–379 μg/100 cm² for 0.1–1% damaged skin and 17–3337 μg/100 cm² for intact skin), whereas the SDCC_CA for inhalation exposure ranged from 51 to 485 μg/100 cm². Considering this analysis, the lowest DOE surface criterion of 0.2 μg/100 cm² is conservative for minimizing exposure and potential risks associated with beryllium-contaminated surfaces released for non-beryllium industrial or public sector use. Although methodological challenges exist with sampling and analysis procedures, data variability and interpretation of surface dust information in relation to anthropogenic and natural background concentrations, this evaluation should provide useful guidance with regard to cleanup of manufacturing equipment or remediation of property for transfer to the general public or non-beryllium industrial facilities.

• Beryllium manufacturing
• chronic beryllium disease
• dermal
• equipment cleanup
• sensitization
• surface contamination
• surface dust release criteria
• risk assessment

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to acknowledge and extend a special appreciation to Paul Scott for his technical review of the risk assessment equations and calculations presented in this paper.