Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Environmental Topics
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Report a Violation
  • About EPA
IRIS
Contact Us

Beryllium and compounds

CASRN 7440-41-7 | DTXSID4023913

  • Toxicological Review (PDF) (94 pp, 320 K)
  • IRIS Summary (PDF) (51 pp, 284 K)

On this page:

  • Key IRIS
    Values
  • Chemical
    Documents
  • Other EPA
    Information

Noncancer Assessment

Reference Dose for Oral Exposure (RfD) (PDF) (51 pp, 284 K) Last Updated: 04/03/1998

System RfD (mg/kg-day) Basis PoD Composite UF Confidence
Gastrointestinal 2 x 10 -3 Small intestinal lesions BMD 10 : 4.6 x 10-1
mg/kg-day
300 Low/Medium

Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure (RfC) (PDF) (51 pp, 284 K) Last Updated: 04/03/1998

System RfC (mg/m3) Basis PoD Composite UF Confidence
Immune, Respiratory 2 x 10 -5 Beryllium sensitization and progression to CBD LOAEL (HEC): 2.0 x 10-4
mg/m3
10 Medium

Cancer Assessment

Weight of Evidence for Cancer (PDF) (51 pp, 284 K) Last Updated: 04/03/1998

WOE Characterization Framework for WOE Characterization
B1 (Probable human carcinogen - based on limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans) Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 1986)
Carcinogenic potential cannot be determined (Oral route) Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 1996)
Known/likely human carcinogen (Inhalation route) Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 1996)
Basis:
  • B1; probable human carcinogen. Based on the limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans exposed to airborne beryllium (lung cancer) and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals (lung cancer in rats and monkeys inhaling beryllium, lung tumors in rats exposed to beryllium via intratracheal instillation, and osteosarcomas in rabbits and possibly mice receiving intravenous or intramedullary injection), beryllium is reclassified from a B2 (inadequate human data) to a B1 probable human carcinogen (limited human data) using criteria of the 1986 Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment. Using the 1996 proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment, inhaled beryllium would be characterized as a "likely" carcinogen in humans, and the human carcinogenic potential of ingested beryllium cannot be determined.
  • This may be a synopsis of the full weight-of-evidence narrative.

Quantitative Estimate of Carcinogenic Risk from Oral Exposure (PDF) (51 pp, 284 K)

Information reviewed but value not estimated.


Quantitative Estimate of Carcinogenic Risk from Inhalation Exposure (PDF) (51 pp, 284 K)

Inhalation Unit Risk: 2.4 x 10-3 per µg/m3
Extrapolation Method: Relative risk
Tumor site(s): Respiratory
Tumor type(s): Lung cancer (Wagoner et al., 1980)

Chemical Documents

May 2008: IRIS Toxicological Review of Beryllium and Compounds (2008 External Review Draft) (Report)

Oct 2003: IRIS Toxicological Review and Summary Documents For Beryllium And Compounds (Report)

Other EPA Information

Additional EPA toxicity information may be available by visiting the following sites:
  • Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides (HHBP). This database provides human health benchmarks for pesticides that may be present in drinking water.
  • Office of Pesticide Programs Pesticide Chemical Search. This database provides links to health effects information and registration status for pesticides.
  • Chemistry Dashboard. This database provides information on chemical structures, experimental and predicted physicochemical, and toxicity data.

Related Links

  • EPA Chemicals Dashboard - Beryllium and compounds
  • eChemPortal - Beryllium and compounds

Critical Effects

Gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal

Immune
Immune

Respiratory
Respiratory

Tumor Sites

Respiratory
Respiratory

Chemical Structure

Beryllium and compounds

Synonyms

  • Beryllium
  • Beryllium and compounds
  • Beryllium-9
  • Glucinum
  • RCRA Waste Number p015
  • UN 1567
  • 7440-41-7
  • IRIS Home
  • About IRIS
  • IRIS Recent Additions
  • IRIS Calendar
  • IRIS Assessments
  • Advanced Search
  • IRIS Program Materials
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshots
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.