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Building Number/Name: |
231-Z |
PAST OPERATIONS
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: PNNL conducted various beryllium operations in this facility from 1967 to 1980. Confirmed rooms with past beryllium activities include 23, 24, 34, 39, and 49. No currently marked beryllium contamination areas were noted during the 1999 assessment.
Description of beryllium activities: Welding of pure beryllium in an exhaust hood was conducted in 1967. Grinding and buffing took place in Room 23. A lathe and polishing operation occurred in the upstairs machine shop. An acid dip was in Room 24. A Lamellar rotating blade sputtering operation was in Room 39 and some machining activities occurred in Room 49.
Building monitoring data summary: Breathing zone and smear samples were taken in most areas noted above. Most of the air samples were below limits in the range of detectable to 0.08 mg/m3. Two general room air samples were analyzed in 1976 with reported results of 33.5 mg/m3 (upstairs grinding and buffing area) and 11.6 mg/m3 (Room smear samples were also recorded through April 1980 with readings all below 0.1 mg/in2).
Personnel monitoring data summary: Records were found of four individuals having personal monitoring. Some of these had results that exceeded limits and the operation was then moved into hoods for proper control. Results of the four samples were: 1) 1976 at the upstairs grinding and buffing station - 19.1 mg/m3; 2) 1976, Room 23 hand sanding area - 11.6 mg/m3; 3) 1978, upstairs machine shop lathe - 1.39 mg/m3; and 4) 1979, Room 34 near a lab hood - 1.2 mg/m3.
Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: As noted above, when samples indicated that limits were being exceeded, the activity was relocated into a ventilated hood. No other information was identified regarding other protective measures.
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: HIGH
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: Unknown
Current building occupancy/activity: The building has been vacant for a number of years with the associated equipment also removed.
1999 Study Results: Ambient air samples were collected on 8/4/99 in the hall between Rooms 72 and 73, in Corridor D outside Room 39, near the south wall of Room 34, and in the hall between Rooms 89 and 99. A personal air sample was also collected on 8/4/99 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 0.005 µg/m3, respectively. Surface wipe samples were collected from 88 sites throughout the building on 8/4/99. Results reported for these samples were below the MDL of 0.5 mg/100 cm2. Areas that were unable to be sampled but should be considered as potentially contaminated with beryllium include the process exhaust ducts and filter boxes in Room 202 (duct level), especially those serving Rooms 23, 24, 34, 39, and 49.
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): There may be some residual beryllium in the exhaust ductwork. Most smear samples taken in 1979 and 1980 were just above the detectable limits. If any work in this building would involve breaking into the abandoned systems (including the exhaust ducts) appropriate controls to protect workers and beryllium sampling should be implemented. A review of the building was made by a BWHC industrial hygienist in December 1997 who concluded that other special precautions would not be needed for routine building operations. This conclusion was confirmed by the results of the 1999 FDH report.
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