Abstract
The wearing, handling and laundering of garments contaminated with beryllium can be a significant potential hazard to individuals involved. The hazard is best controlled by use of wet methods. Four methods to determine the degree of contamination are discussed: (1) the shake test, (2) the vacuum test, (3) the rinse test, and (4) the smear test. Assuming conventional laundering procedures have been used, the potential hazard to subsequent wearers of the garment is minimal. Suggested standards for determining adequacy of laundry are 0.1 μ g Be/cm2 as determined by the vacuum test, or 200 μg Be/garment, by the rinse test. Reported is a summary of a survey of related practices in other beryllium industries.