3500-Be

Beryllium

Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2001. Editorial revisions, 2011 and 2020. Joint Task Group: 20th Edition—Brian J. Condike (chair), Deanna K. Anderson,
Anthony Bright, Richard A. Cahill, Alois F. Clary, C. Ellen Gonter, Peter M. Grohse, Daniel C. Hillman, Albert C. Holler, Amy Hughes, J. Charles Jennett, Roger A. Minear,
Marlene O. Moore, Gregg L. Oelker, S. Kusum Perera, James G. Poff, Jeffrey G. Skousen, Michael D. Wichman, John L. Wuepper.

Beryllium (Be) is the first element in Group IIA of the periodic
table. It has an atomic number of 4, an atomic weight of 9.01, and
a valence of 2. The average abundance of Be in the earth’s crust
is 2 ppm; in soils it is 0.8 to 1.3 ppm; in streams it is 0.2 µg/L, in
US drinking waters and in groundwaters it is typically <0.1 µg/L.
Beryllium occurs in nature in deposits of beryls in granitic rocks.
Beryllium is used in high-strength alloys of copper and nickel,
windows in X-ray tubes, and as a moderator in nuclear reactors.
Beryllium solubility is controlled in natural waters by the
solubility of beryllium hydroxides. The solubility at pH 6.0 is
approximately 0.1 µg/L. It is nonessential for plants and animals.
Acute toxicity occurs at 130 µg/L, and chronic toxicity at 5 µg/L
in freshwater species. The United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization recommended maximum level for irrigation waters
is 100 µg/L. The U.S. EPA primary drinking water standard MCL
for beryllium is 4 µg/L.
The atomic absorption spectrometric methods (Sections 3111 D
and E, and 3113 B) and the inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
methods (Sections 3120 and 3125) are the methods of choice.
If atomic absorption or ICP instrumentation is not available, the
aluminon colorimetric method detailed in the 19th E ­ dition of
Standard Methods may be used. This method has poorer preci-
sion and bias than the methods of choice.

Published Online: August 27, 2018

Revised: July 1, 2020
https://doi.org/10.2105/SMWW.2882.224 1