title: Beryllium: an easily scavenged metal ion in the environment.
abstract: This study was specifically aimed to determine the levels of beryllium in environmental samples near the vicinity of the beryllium metal plant (BMP). Air particulate samples collected at the BMP site, in the non-monsoon and monsoon seasons, showed an average beryllium concentration of 0.3 and 0.1 ng m(-3) respectively, where as rain water samples showed the beryllium values in the range of 0.01-0.2 ng ml(-1). The suspended particulate matter (dust load) at the site studied was 570 and 250 microg m(-3) in the non-monsoon and monsoon seasons respectively. The results obtained show that, in the environment, 80% of the total beryllium present is removed by rain.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, India. bhatprakashn@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: M V M
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D001608:Beryllium / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D008669:Metallurgy; D010316:Particle Size; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D001608:Beryllium