Beryllium oxide

Synonyms

Beryllia; Beryllium monoxide; Beryllium oxide (BeO); Bromellete; Natural bromellite; Thermalox; Thermalox 995; [ChemIDplus] UN1566

Category

Beryllium Compounds, Inorganic

Description

White solid; Insoluble in water; [Hawley] White odorless powder; [MSDSonline] Very sparingly soluble in water; [ACGIH]

Sources/Uses

Used in electric heat sinks, electrical insulators, microwave oven components, gyroscopes, military vehicle armor, rocket nozzles, crucibles, thermocouple tubing, laser structural components, electron tubes, resistor cores, windows in klystron tubes, transistor mountings, high-temperature reactor systems, and beryllium oxide ceramics; Also used as an additive (glass, ceramics, and plastics) and as a catalyst for organic reactions; [HSDB] Used in fuels and moderators in nuclear reactors; [Merck Index] Used to make ceramics in resistor cores, laser tubes, and circuit chip carriers; [ACGIH]

Comments

May cause burns to skin and eyes; [HSDB] A severe skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause beryllium sensitization after prolonged contact; Dust or fume inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis; Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause chronic beryllium disease; [ICSC] See "Beryllium" for one additional linked occupational disease.

Biomedical References

Yes

5E-05 mg/m3, as Be, inhalable fraction

0.002 mg/m3, as Be, Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.005 mg/m3, as Be(0.025 mg/m3,as Be,for 30 min.peak per 8-hr shift)

4 mg/m3, as Be

Explanatory Notes

The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Beryllium compounds, n.o.s."

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Chronic beryllium disease

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Glass Manufacturing