Dufresne A, Turcotte V, Golshahi H, Viau S, Perrault G, Dion C
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marguerite-d'Youville, 2375, Chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montréal, Québec H3T 1A8, Canada.
Ann Occup Hyg. 2009 Jun;53(4):353-62. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mep007. Epub 2009 Mar 2.
Exposure to beryllium compounds, both by inhalation and skin contact, may result in immune sensitization and chronic beryllium disease. The objective of the present research work was to study the feasibility of removing beryllium compounds from the surfaces of devices made of Be-Cu alloy and to estimate the frequency at which the surfaces had to be rubbed in order to evaluate the likelihood that beryllium can be removed from the surfaces by serial wipe sampling at concentrations exceeding the US Department of Energy (DOE) standard limit of 0.2 microg per 100 cm2. The standard limit was exceeded after successive cleanings of moulds and plates made of Be-Cu alloy with solvents such Citranox, an acidic solvent, Alconox, Z-99 and Fantastik, basic solvents, or more neutral solvents such as Luminox and water. Citranox was the best solvent for extracting beryllium from the tested surfaces, while Alconox seemed to be the second best one. In general, warm water, Luminox and Z-99 seemed to be less efficient for extracting Be from all equipment. The results of the present study suggest that Ghost Wipes, when passed across a surface under the firm pressure of an individual's hand, can be used to detect beryllium contamination. However, they seem to show low reliability for quantification. From a safety standpoint in occupational settings, workers should be offered skin protection and respiratory protection if they have to handle devices made of Be-Cu alloy.
吸入和皮肤接触铍化合物都可能导致免疫致敏和慢性铍病。本研究工作的目的是研究从铍铜合金制成的设备表面去除铍化合物的可行性，并估计为评估通过连续擦拭采样在浓度超过美国能源部（DOE）每100平方厘米0.2微克的标准限值时从表面去除铍的可能性而必须擦拭表面的频率。在用酸性溶剂西曲溴铵、碱性溶剂爱尔康洗液、Z - 99和奇幻牌清洁剂或更中性的溶剂如鲁米诺克斯和水对铍铜合金制成的模具和板材进行连续清洗后，超过了标准限值。西曲溴铵是从测试表面提取铍的最佳溶剂，而爱尔康洗液似乎是第二好的。总体而言，温水、鲁米诺克斯和Z - 99从所有设备中提取铍的效率似乎较低。本研究结果表明，幽灵擦拭布在个人手部的坚定压力下擦拭表面时，可用于检测铍污染。然而，它们在定量方面似乎可靠性较低。从职业环境中的安全角度来看，如果工人必须处理铍铜合金制成的设备，应为他们提供皮肤保护和呼吸保护。
