Hanford Beryllium Exposure

Hanford Facility Beryllium Fact Sheet

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

222-T
February 23, 2004
FH-CP
K. H. Jaten

PAST OPERATIONS
Beryllium brought in facility: YES
Form of beryllium: SOLID
Period of beryllium operations (dates): Start: 1952 End: 1952
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Data on the 1952 operations indicate beryllium was used inside a ventilation hood in Room 6, however, Room 6 could not be located on 8/5/99. The earlier data may refer to Room 106. No currently marked beryllium contamination areas were noted during the 1999 assessment.Description of beryllium activities: Experimental work using beryllium oxide powders which were incorporated into a slurry. In the hood, 15 grams of fused and ground (325 mesh) beryllium oxide were added to 150 ml of water in a 400 ml beaker. The mix was stirred, filtered and the assembly dismantled with pieces placed into cardboard boxes and sealed for disposal. No other beryllium activities were identified.

Building monitoring data summary: Four air samples (2 breathing zone and two from the hood face) were collected in 1952. The two breathing zone and one hood face samples were below detection limits (<0.001 mg/m³ or less) and one hood face sample was 0.07 mg/m³which was collected during the transfer of the slurry.

Personnel monitoring data summary: See above

Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: Work was conducted in a ventilated hood. PPE worn included coveralls, rubber gloves taped to the sleeves of the coveralls, and an assault mask.

Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: LOW

CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: Unknown

Current building occupancy/activity: This facility is vacant and waiting final disposition by BWHC's FASTER team.

1999 Study Results: Ambient air samples were collected on 8/4/99 in the hallways outside Rooms 102 and 108C. A personal air sample was collected on 8/5/99 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) of 0.004 and 0.019 µg/m³, respectively. Surface wipe samples were collected from 29 sites throughout the building on 8/5/99. 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 the interiors of process and fume hood exhaust ducts in former laboratories.

Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Operations: NONE

Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report; FDH beryllium assessment report.

Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): This facility has been vacant for a number of years. All equipment, including the lab hoods, were removed years ago. There is no record of beryllium activities other than in 1952.

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