Environmental health criteria 106: Beryllium

This document is a scientific report produced under the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), jointly sponsored by UNEP, ILO, and WHO. It presents a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and human health impacts of beryllium. It begins by detailing beryllium’s identity, physical and chemical properties, and analytical methods for its detection. It then examines natural and anthropogenic sources of exposure, particularly industrial use, combustion of fossil fuels, and occupational settings. The report discusses environmental transport, levels, and transformations, and analyzes exposure routes and kinetics in both animals and humans. Adverse effects range from acute pneumonitis to chronic beryllium disease, with documented carcinogenic potential in animal studies and evidence of excess lung cancer in exposed workers. The document further reviews environmental toxicity, especially to aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and notes beryllium’s high phytotoxicity at low concentrations. It concludes by recommending stricter control measures in occupational and industrial contexts