| Building
Number/Name: Date prepared: Responsible Contractor: Contact: |
326 November 20, 2000, Updated February 7, 2003 PNNL A. L. Nicholson |
PAST OPERATIONS
Beryllium brought in facility: YES
Form of beryllium: SOLID
Period of beryllium operations (dates): Start: 1953 End: 1977
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Room 14A (irradiation reactor tube); Rooms 6A (thermocouple inside furnace); 48C (grinding machine); 23B (neutron detector); 19B (beryllium hood); 17A (electron microscopy; and 2A (electron microscopy).
Description of beryllium activities: The 326 Building, then known as the Pile Technology Building, opened in 1953 with two primary missions, both associated with the support and production of production pile operations (including fuel jacketing process improvement studies). A November 1954 memo noted a general laxity toward radiation and contamination precautions including refusal to wear respirators. This memo noted that uranium and beryllium fines and grindings were collected in a bag filter system before the installation of HEPA filters in the early 1960s. A 1957 memo identified the transfer of approximately one pound of beryllium oxide dust from one container to another which was conducted in a glove box. A 1964 memo identified a beryllium oxide rod that was used in an irradiation tube probe (coated with epoxy resin) in Room 14A. Several 1966 reports identified beryllium oxide contamination in Room 6A. One event involved a spill of powder during the repair of a thermocouple in a furnace and the other report identified a release from an explosion of a thermocouple in an oven. A 1968 report noted grinding of a 3% beryllium alloy with a belt sander (with local exhaust) in Room 48C. Two 1971 reports noted that beryllium-coated screens were used as sensing units in a neutron detector in Room 23B. The screens were stored in methanol and adherence (flaking) problems were noted. A 1977 report identified a beryllium hood in Room 19B and a second 1977 memo identified the preparation and analysis of beryllium (electron microscopy) in Rooms 17A and 2A.
Building monitoring data summary: Seventeen swipe samples were collected in and around the two furnace releases in 1966. The maximum result was 0.01 mg/in2 and fourteen of the samples were reported at 0.002 mg/in2 or less. Two air samples were collected after the 1966 explosion with reported concentrations of <0.0004 mg/m3. A single air sample (32 minutes) was collected during the grinding procedure in 1969 with a reported concentration of 0.003 mg/m3 . Three air samples were collected during plating and coating procedures with the beryllium-coated screens in 1971 that were Aless than one-tenth the permissible levels.@ Seven swipe samples were collected in Rooms 19B, 17A, and 2A; all were less than 0.003 mg/in2. In 1996, some material was collected in a ventilation duct and analysis indicated that the material contained 1.9 mg/kg of beryllium.
Personnel monitoring data summary: No personal air samples were identified. However air sampling results discussed above were all at low levels or below detection levels.
Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: Exhaust ventilation and hoods were noted when pouring the beryllium oxide dust in 1957, grinding the 3% alloy in 1969, and working with laboratory samples in 1977. Workers wore COMFO7 half-face respirators when working with the beryllium-coated screens in 1971.
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: SIGNIFICANT (through mid 1960s) and LOW (after mid 1960s)
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: Unknown
Current building occupancy/activity: This building is currently used as a materials sciences laboratory; no beryllium is currently used or stored in the facility.
1999 Results: On April 14, 1999, fourteen wipe samples were collected in Lab 10A in the 326 Building. The purpose of collecting the wipe samples was to quantify residue concentrations of beryllium generated by recent cutting and grinding operations in the lab. Two saws (ISOMET Saw with a hood and ISOMET Slow Speed (SS)) and one grinder (ECOMET III) were used to cut and grind the beryllium discs. Water was used during the cutting and grinding. None of the equipment is directly connected ventilation. All three machines were wiped down with wet rags and posted "out of service" prior to obtaining the wipe samples. Results ranged from <0.005 ug/cm2 to 0.38 ug/cm2. Clean-up of the lab occurred shortly after. After clean-up, all wipe samples were below the level of detection of <0.005 ug/cm2.
All samples were 100 square centimeters (cm2) samples and were obtained with PaceWipe, pre-moistened wipes. Analysis of the samples was performed by WSCF, by ICM-EM following dry ashing and acid digestion.
Results of the wipe samples are on file with Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Safety.
2000 Characterization:
Statistical beryllium wipe sampling was conducted in suspect areas of this facility (Rooms 2A, 6A, 9A, 10A, 12A, 15A/17A, 21A, 19B, 23B, 47C, and 48C) on April 28, 2000 to characterize residual beryllium levels from past operations. There were 88 samples taken and all were below the housekeeping limit for removable beryllium (<3 µg/100 cm2). However, two samples in Room 10A were above the release criteria having a maximum contamination level of 0.335 µg/100 cm2).2002 Decontamination Sampling:
Prior to decontamination, five additional wipe samples were taken August 28, 2002 in Room 10A to determine extent of contamination. All five were below the release criteria.Room 10A was decontaminated October 10, 2002. Personal and area air samples collected during the cleaning operation were below detection limits. Nine wipe samples were taken to verify decontamination and all were below the release criteria (0.2 µg/100 cm2).
Maximum Estimated Current Be exposure: LOW
Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report, publication WHC-MR-0388, personnel interviews, and chemical inventory.
Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): Beryllium may be present as a contaminant in the exhaust ventilation ducts and swipe samples should be collected to evaluate interior conditions prior to work activities inside the ducts.
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