Document v6xoG9EK18r6gowE9G9qj1Q16

the skin, but primarily because it will almost certainly involve excessive inhalation of the vapor Benzene hexachloride--see Hexachlorocyclohexane. Benzoyl peroxide. The principal hazards of benzoyl peroxide are due to its flammable and explosive properties Its principal effects are related to irritation and sensitization upon contact with the skin Systemic toxicity in man has not been reported No objectionable subjective symptoms were experienced when employees were exposed to dust concentra tions ranging from I 34 to 5 25 mg of benzoyl peroxide per cubic meter of air Concentrations of 12 2 mg/cu m and higher resulted m pronounced irritation of the nose and throat The analysis of the air-borne dust showed that it contained potassium alum in addition to benzoyl peroxide, but the effect produced by the alum was considered to be negligible Benzyl chloride is a colorless liquid used m a variety of chemical syntheses Its vapor is a potent irritant to the eyes, nose, and throat and may cause lung edema The liquid may cause severe comeal injury Beryllium. Among the occupational dis eases produced by beryllium, the first condi tion reported (in 1943) was an acute chemical pneumonitis, which occurred among workers exposed to beryllium compounds and was at tributed largely to the fluorides A delayed reaction to beryllium, character ized as chronic and appearing as late as two or three years after the exposure which caused it, was reported some time later Even more recently, it has been reported that the delay between last exposure to beryllium and the appearance of symptoms may be as long as ten years This condition showed a granulo matous lesion of the lungs as the most striking effect, accompanied by general metabolic dis turbances and anemia so that the individual had continuous weight loss and great weak ness in addition to a chronic cough A large number of cases of dermatitis attributed to beryllium and beryllium compounds have also been reported Although as recently as 1940 beryllium was thought to be reasonably harmless, it has since been declared that it is unquestionably a toxic agent and m such small quantities as to be among the most toxic chemically of all ele ments yet investigated Acute effects have been brought about in animals with beryllium m quantities m the order of millimicrograms Field survey evidence shows that still smaller quantities may produce the chrome disease in human beings "Safe" levels of beryllium ex posure may ultimately be set well below one fig/cu m of air It has also been established that a worker may carry home enough beryllium compound on his clothes to result m illness in some mem ber of his family Several investigators have demonstrated that the presence of fluorine contributes to toxic action of beryllium Recommendations issued by the Atomic Energy Commission for the control of beryl lium hazards in atomic energy installations state as follows 1 The in-plant atmospheric concentration of beryllium at beryllium operations should not exceed two pg per cu m as an average concentration throughout an eight-hour day 2 Even though the daily average is within the limits of recommendation No 1, no per sonnel should be exposed to a concentration greater than 25 pg/cu m for any period of time, however short 3 In the neighborhood of an AEC plant han dling beryllium compounds, the average monthly concentration at the breathing zone level should not exceed 0 01 pg/cu m 4 An individual showing any sign of chronic berylliosis should be excluded from further exposure to beryllium compounds 5 There is no reason to exclude women from employment in plants handling beryllium 6 Pre-employment and termination examina tions, including chest radiographs, should be required of employees m beryllium plants 7 Pei iodic chest radiographs should be made every six months on personnel exposed to beryllium 1129