Hanford Beryllium Exposure - Building 1706-KE

Hanford Facility Beryllium Fact Sheet

Building Number/Name:
Date prepared:
Responsible Contractor:
Contact:

1706-KE
September 23, 1999
DESH
M. H. Schorzman

PAST OPERATIONS
Beryllium brought in facility: YES
Form of beryllium: SOLID
Period of beryllium operations (dates): Start: 1960 End: 1960
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Laboratory. No currently marked beryllium contamination areas were noted during 1999 assessment.

Description of beryllium activities: The Coolant Systems Development Operation tested the effects of decontaminating agents on fuel elements including 5% beryllium brazing smelter.

Building monitoring data summary: None identified.

Personnel monitoring data summary: Two air samples were collected in the chemist's breathing zone just outside the hood face where Turco 4512 and alkalinepermanganate were being tested. The reported results were both below 0.01 mg/m³.

Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: Work was conducted inside a ventilated hood with a reported average face velocity of 70 fpm.

Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: NONE

CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: NO

Current building occupancy/activity: The building is currently used as an office for administrative personnel, as a health physics counting lab, and for waste handling support.

1999 Study Results: Ambient air samples were collected on 6/29/99 outside the entry to the Men's Locker Room and on the West wall of the Main Bay outside the entrance to Lab Number 2. A personal air sample was also collected on 6/29/99 in the breathing zone of a technician while wipe sampling surfaces for beryllium. Results reported for these samples were below the Method Detection Limit (MDL), 0.004 µg/m³ for the ambient air and 0.006 µg/m³ for the breathing zone sample. Surface samples were collected from 59 sites throughout the building on 6/29/99. Results reported for these samples were below the MDL of 0.5 mg/100 cm². Areas that were unable to be sampled but could possibly be contaminated with beryllium include: 1) the exhaust ductwork formerly serving fume hoods and equipment in Labs Number 2 and 4; and 2) the fume hood interior and exhaust ducts in Lab Number 1A.

Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Operations: NONE

Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report and interviews with current and past site personnel; FDH beryllium assessment report.

Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): Beryllium is not currently used in this facility. Correspondence with a retired manager at the facility could not identify any historic beryllium use in the building. It may have been present in ceramic research for NASA nose cones in the early 1960s. Portions of the facility were cleaned and remodeled for current activities.

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