Elemental analysis of contemporary dental materials regarding potential beryllium content.

Exposure to beryllium (Be) can lead to lung pathologies, such as chronic beryllium disease (CBD). This occupational illness has been more prevalent among dental technicians compared to the non-exposed population. Although most manufacturers state that dental materials are Be-free, this prevalence raises the question of whether the materials are completely devoid of Be-traces. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the elemental composition, with emphasis on Be, of a wide range of commercially available dental materials frequently used by dental laboratories. Samples of 32 different materials were collected and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the Be content was below the limit of quantification in all included samples (< 0.00005 mass-%). Therefore, it can be concluded that possible traces of Be were below clinical relevance in dental materials. Exposure of dental technicians to alternative Be sources should be further evaluated.

An Exploratory Study of Beryllium and UK Soft Touch Regulation: An Enduring Example of Weaknesses of UK Occupational Health and Safety Governance.

Smart regulation, better regulation, responsive regulation, business-friendly regulation and voluntary 'self-regulation' have their origins deeply embedded in UK policies in the 20th century. Their aim generally is to reduce workplace regulatory obligations on employers. This can overtly or covertly undermine efforts to improve working conditions. In the UK, the historical control and regulation of beryllium (a toxic metal used in industry) illustrates this problem, and as we illustrate through an exploratory analysis of original archival material and official publications. Soft touch regulation of the metal beryllium was developed within the UK semiconductor industry when tighter controls were proposed in the 1960s and 1970s. Historical industry, government and science responses to health and safety information about beryllium provide important lessons for current debates on occupational health and safety.

Novel metallomic profiling and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of botanical ingredients for use in herbal, phytopharmaceutical and dietary products using HR-ICP-SFMS.

Knowledge of element concentrations in botanical extracts is relevant to assure consumer protection given the increased interest in plant-based ingredients. This study demonstrates successful multi-element investigations in order to address the lack of comprehensive profiling data for botanical extracts, while reporting for the first time the metallomic profile(s) of arnica, bush vetch, sweet cicely, yellow rattle, bogbean, rock-tea and tufted catchfly. Key element compositions were quantified using a validated HR-ICP-SFMS method (µg kg-1) and were found highly variable between the different plants: Lithium (18-3964); Beryllium (3-121); Molybdenum (75-4505); Cadmium (5-325); Tin (6-165); Barium (747-4646); Platinum (2-33); Mercury (5-30); Thallium (3-91); Lead (12-4248); Bismuth (2-30); Titanium (131-5827); Vanadium (15-1758); Chromium (100-4534); Cobalt (21-652); Nickel (230-6060) and Copper (1910-6340). Compendial permissible limits were not exceeded. Overall, no evidence of a health risk to consumers could be determined from consumption of the investigated plants at reasonable intake rates. Mathematical risk modelling (EDI, CDI, HQ, HI) estimated levels above safe oral thresholds only for Cd (16%) and Pb (8%) from higher intakes of the respective plant-derived material. Following high consumption of certain plants, 42% of the samples were categorised as potentially unsafe due to cumulative exposure to Cu, Cd, Hg and Pb. PCA suggested a potential influence of post-harvest processing on Cr, Ti and V levels in commercially-acquired plant material compared to wild-collected and farm-grown plants. Moreover, a strong correlation was observed between Pb-Bi, Be-V, Bi-Sn, and Tl-Mo occurrence. This study may support future research by providing both robust methodology and accompanying reference profile(s) suitable for the quality evaluation of essential elements and/or metal contaminants in botanical ingredients.

Hair Toxic Trace Elements of Residents across the Caspian Oil and Gas Region of Kazakhstan: Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the content of toxic trace elements, such as aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), in the hair of the adult population of western Kazakhstan and the distance of their residence from oil and gas fields. The cross-sectional study included 850 adults aged 18-60 years. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the level of Al, As, Be, Cd, Hg, and Pb in hair. The relationship between the concentration of toxic trace elements in the hair and the distance from oil and gas fields was assessed in three groups (<16 km, 16-110 km, and >110 km), using multiple linear regression analysis. The highest concentration of Hg = 0.338 µg/g was determined in the group living near oil and gas fields (0-16 km), whereas the lowest concentration of Al = 3.127 µg/g and As = 0.028 µg/g was determined in participants living at a long distance (more than 110 km) (p < 0.001). The concentration of Al (-0.126 (CI: -0.174; -0.077)), Hg (-0.065 (CI: -0.129; -0.001)), and Pb (0.111 (CI: 0.045; 0.177)) is associated with the distance to oil and gas fields. The obtained data indicate a change in the toxic trace element content in the hair of residents in the Caspian region of western Kazakhstan, a change that is most pronounced in residents living in the zone of oil and gas pollution. The distance to the oil and gas fields affects the content of toxic elements in scalp hair. In particular, the concentration of Al and Hg is associated with a decrease in the distance to oil and gas fields, while the concentration of Pb is associated with an increase in the distance to these fields. The lowest content of Al and As was determined in the hair of study participants living in the most remote areas (more than 110 km from oil and gas fields). Our results demonstrate the need for the biomonitoring of toxic elements to determine long-term temporal trends in the impact of chemicals on public health in western Kazakhstan.

Precipitation scavenging of beryllium-7 (7Be): Observation results and parameterization.

This study aims to develop a 1D model that makes it possible to calculate the daily total 7Be wet deposition flux. For this purpose, long-term (2015-2021), high-frequency (daily) and time-synchronized series of observations of 7Be wet deposition flux and its atmospheric activity concentration are analyzed in this paper. Daily mean 7Be activity concentration in the atmosphere, daily total 7Be wet deposition flux and mean 7Be activity concentration, washout ratio, deposition velocity and scavenging coefficient with individual precipitation events lie in the range of 0.1-17 mBq m-3, 0.8-117.2 Bq m-2 d-1, 0.4-11.3 Bq L-1, 331-3799, 0.2-24.7 cm s-1 and (0.8-35.6) × 10-5 s-1, respectively. Quantitative estimates of the influence of precipitation parameters (amount, intensity and duration) on the daily total 7Be wet deposition flux, mean 7Be activity concentration in precipitation, washout ratio, deposition velocity and scavenging coefficient with individual precipitation events have been obtained using correlation analysis. It has been found that precipitation amount has the greatest influence on 7Be deposition flux and deposition velocity, precipitation intensity has the greatest influence on washout ratio and scavenging coefficient, and precipitation duration has the greatest influence on 7Be activity concentration in precipitation. The relationships between these parameters have been parameterized. Based on these parameterizations, five 1D models that calculate the daily total 7Be wet deposition flux have been introduced and validated against the observation data. It has been revealed that the model, which is based on deposition velocity parameterization and uses the data on 7Be activity concentration in the atmosphere and the daily amount of precipitation as predictors, reproduces the highest fraction of the observational data (88%) with the lowest average calculation error (32%) compared to the other four models.

Role of beryllium in the environment: Insights from specific sorption and precipitation studies under different conditions.

In this study, we examined factors influencing the environmental behaviour of Be, specifically considering soils collected from a legacy radioactive waste disposal site near Sydney (Australia). The precipitation study showed the formation of Be(OH)2 (amorphous) from ICP standard solution, but a mixture of Be(OH)2 (alpha), Be(OH)2 (beta) and ternary Na/S-Be (ΙΙ)-OH(s) solid phase were formed from BeSO4 solutions. The precipitation of Be started at relatively lower pH at higher concentrations than at the lower Be concentration as indicated by both laboratory data and simulation. Across the pH range, the Be sorption curve was divided into three phases, these being pH 3-6, pH 6-10, and pH > 10, within which sorption of Be with soil was 9-97%, 90-97%, and 66-90%, respectively. Beryllium solubility was limited at pH > 7, but a sorption study with soil showed chemisorption under both acidic and alkaline pH (pH 5.5 and 8) conditions, which was confirmed by FTIR and XPS analysis. At pH 5.5 (specifically relevant to the study site), sorption of Be was 72-95%, in which 77% and 46% Be was respectively sorbed by separated fulvic and humic acid fractions. The irreversible chemisorption mechanism was controlled by SOM at higher pH, and by metal oxyhydroxides at lower pH. Both organic and inorganic components synergistically influence the specific chemisorption of Be at the intermediate pH 5.5 of field soil.

Study of the naturally occurring radionuclide Beryllium-7 (Be-7) in Hong Kong.

Beryllium-7 (Be-7) is one of the naturally occurring radionuclides being monitored under the Global Atmosphere Watch Programme of the World Meteorological Organization. Be-7 mainly originates from cosmic rays. It can be used as a tracer to facilitate understanding of the atmospheric vertical transport by observing its spatial and temporal distribution characteristics. The Hong Kong Observatory has been operating an environmental radiation monitoring programme for decades, and long record of Be-7 activity concentration data in airborne particulate samples are available to characterize the behaviour of Be-7 in the lower atmosphere in Hong Kong. In this study, Be-7 activity concentration data of airborne particulates collected at three locations in Hong Kong from 1993 to 2020 are examined. Temporal variations are analyzed. In particular, the long-term monthly average Be-7 activity concentrations are found to be most sensitive to precipitation. The relevant data analysis, as well as key factors affecting the Be-7 activity concentrations in the lower atmosphere in Hong Kong, will be described.

Influence of precipitation on the daily beryllium-7 (7Be) activity concentration in the atmospheric surface layer.

The paper presents the monitoring results of the temporal variability of daily 7Be activity concentration in the atmospheric surface layer at Sevastopol in 2011-2020. The 7Be activity concentration in individual samples of atmospheric aerosols varies from 0.1 to 13.3 mBq m-3 and averages 4.0 ± 2.0 Bq m-3. Higher 7Be activity concentrations have been observed during the period from May to August while lower concentrations have been measured from December to January. Quantitative estimates of the influence of precipitation (amount, duration, intensity) on the temporal variability of 7Be activity concentration have been obtained. It has been found that daily 7Be activity concentration decrease by 2-82% on the first day with precipitation. It has been shown that an increase in precipitation duration and a decrease in its intensity lead to a more significant decrease in the daily 7Be activity concentration. The estimates of the scavenging coefficient have been obtained; the average value is 0.6 ± 1.0 h-1. An increase in the precipitation intensity or amount is accompanied by a decrease in the 7Be scavenging coefficient. Mean 0.5-folding and residence times of 7Be activity concentration in the atmosphere during a moderate rain event are 2.9 ± 2.2 and 15.4 ± 13.6 h, respectively. The recovery of 7Be activity concentration in the atmosphere after precipitation has been investigated. It has been found that this process takes 1-2 days. The mean value of the reload coefficient is 0.94 ± 0.34 d-1. The relationship between the value of the reload coefficient and local meteorological parameters (air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, surface net solar radiation flux) has been investigated. No statistically significant correlations at a 95% confidence level between the reload coefficient and the considered meteorological parameters have been revealed. Parameterization describing a decrease in the daily 7Be activity concentration in the atmosphere due to precipitation and its recovery during the precipitation-free period has been introduced.

A Cluster of Beryllium Sensitization Traced to the Presence of Beryllium in Concrete Dust.

BACKGROUND: Chronic beryllium disease (CBD), a granulomatous disease with similarities to sarcoidosis, arises only in individuals exposed to beryllium. Inhaled beryllium can elicit a T-cell-dominated alveolitis leading nonnecrotizing granulomata. CBD can be distinguished from sarcoidosis by demonstrating beryllium sensitization in a lymphocyte proliferation test. RESEARCH QUESTION: Beryllium exposure usually occurs in an occupational setting. Because of the diagnosis of CBD in a patient without evident beryllium exposure, we performed a beryllium-lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) among his work colleagues. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This field study investigated a cohort of work colleagues without obvious beryllium exposure. Twenty-one of 30 individuals were assessed in our outpatient clinic for beryllium sensitization. Therefore, BeLPT was performed with freshly collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Data were extracted from clinical charts, including geographical data. Beryllium content in dust samples collected at the workplace was measured by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy and was compared with samples from different areas of Germany. RESULTS: For the initial patient, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was reclassified as CBD based on two positive BeLPT results. Assessment of his workplace did not identify a source of beryllium. However, BeLPTs performed on his workmates demonstrated beryllium sensitization in 5 of 21 individuals, suggesting a local beryllium source. Concrete dust obtained from the building yard, the workplace of the index patient, contained high amounts of beryllium (1138 ± 162 µg/kg), whereas dust from other localities (control samples) showed much lower beryllium content (range, 147 ± 18-452 ± 206 µg/kg). Notably, the control dust collected from different places all over Germany exhibit different beryllium concentrations. INTERPRETATION: We describe a cluster of beryllium-sensitized workers from an industry not related to beryllium caused by environmental exposure to beryllium-containing concrete dust, which exhibited markedly elevated beryllium content. Importantly, analyses of dust samples collected from different localities showed that they contain markedly different amounts of beryllium. Thus, besides workplace-related exposure, environmental factors also are capable of eliciting a beryllium sensitization.

[Management of occupational health for adverse health effects of beryllium and its compounds in workplaces - Recent trends and issues in Japan].

OBJECTIVES: Beryllium is primarily used in its metallic form, in alloys, or in beryllium oxide ceramics. Its physical and mechanical properties make it useful for many applications across a range of industries. Because beryllium is recognized as a sensitizing and carcinogenic agent, the management of occupational health for workers who may be occupationally exposed to beryllium has long been an important issue in the world. Under these circumstances, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had published a rule in January 2017, to prevent the development of chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer. This rule strengthens the regulations governing the use of beryllium and its compounds. With the announcement of the OSHA rule in January 2017, the purpose of this study is to gain insight into the health problems and industrial hygiene associated with the use of beryllium and share the issues related to the management of occupational health for persons working with beryllium in Japan. METHODS: We collected information regarding the beryllium industry, beryllium exposure, beryllium-induced health disorders, OSHA rule of January 2017, and regulations for beryllium use in Japan. After reviewing them, we discussed the issues concerning occupational health management of workers exposed to beryllium in Japan. RESULTS: It has been reconfirmed that in recent years, the most serious health problem due to beryllium exposure is chronic beryllium disease caused by beryllium sensitization. Management of occupational health that emphasizes reduction of beryllium sensitization and early detection of beryllium-sensitized workers is important. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that the following should be considered as the issues of management of occupational health of workers exposed to beryllium in Japan: (1) Collect epidemiologic data on health hazards from beryllium exposure in Japan. (2) Review the diagnostic items of special medical check-ups. (3) Review the definition of beryllium and its compounds in the Ordinance on Prevention of Hazards due to Specified Chemical Substances.

Health aspects of exposure to emissions from burning coal of high beryllium content: interactions with the immune system.

Beryllium has an impact on the human health of professionally or non-occupationally exposed people. Current evidence suggests that beryllium acts as a hapten with limited antigenic properties and is presented by antigen presenting cells to CD4+ T cells, which possess specific antigen receptors. The immunological changes in humoral immunoreactivity were considered biomarkers of beryllium exposure. In the present, due to the development of immunologic knowledge, tests of cellular immunity have promising potential for further research in this field. The historical view of the immune response to beryllium in acute and/or chronic beryllium disease is an example of the development of the interaction between mechanisms of innate and adaptive (specific), humoral and cellular immunity. The authors emphasize the increasing importance of immunological aspects in the studies of health impacts of human exposure to environmental pollutants.

Origin and percolation times of Milandre Cave drip water determined by tritium time series and beryllium-7 data from Switzerland.

Early observations of the tritium (3H) activity in precipitation from Switzerland started in 1967 in Bern and a monitoring program with improved analytical techniques was carried out between 1971 and 2009. Between 2012 and 2015, we performed tritium analyses on daily precipitation samples from north-western Switzerland to better constrain the tritium variability. We also collected waters dripping inside Milandre Cave (Jura Mountains) with a 4-6 months' resolution in order to estimate the age of the drip water, which is mandatory to interpret the high-resolution speleothem (cave carbonate deposits) records. Over the monitoring period, the mean tritium concentration in the daily precipitation samples was approximately 8.7 ± 4.7 TU with distinct seasonality showing higher values in spring and summer (from April-May to August-September). The similarity in trends with the other cosmogenic radionuclide beryllium-7 (7Be) suggests that, for the study site, tritium in precipitation essentially originates from stratospheric input in spring. In winter, precipitation dynamics with increasing moisture originating from the Atlantic and diluted during transport contribute to low values close to the Atlantic background. In cave drip water, the depleted activity level of tritium indicates a relatively long percolation time from the surface to the cave of several years. A residual superimposed short tritium variability provides evidence for the occurrence of fast flowing water paths. The contribution from both components were quantified based on a two-component lumped parameter-mixing model. Finally, we show that tritium concentrations in cave drip water are linked to the moisture origin and atmospheric transport pathways.

Associations of Metrics of Peak Inhalation Exposure and Skin Exposure Indices With Beryllium Sensitization at a Beryllium Manufacturing Facility.

OBJECTIVES: Peak beryllium inhalation exposures and exposure to the skin may be relevant for developing beryllium sensitization (BeS). The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with BeS to inform the prevention of sensitization, and the development of chronic beryllium disease (CBD). METHODS: In a survey of short-term workers employed at a primary beryllium manufacturing facility between the years 1994-1999, 264 participants completed a questionnaire and were tested for BeS. A range of qualitative and quantitative peak inhalation metrics and skin exposure indices were created using: personal full-shift beryllium exposure measurements, 15 min to 24 h process-specific task and area exposure measurements, glove measurements as indicator of skin exposure, process-upset information gleaned from historical reports, and self-reported information on exposure events. Hierarchical clustering was conducted to systematically group participants based on similarity of patterns of 16 exposure variables. The associations of the exposure metrics with BeS and self-reported skin symptoms (in work areas processing beryllium salts as well as in other work areas) were evaluated using correlation analysis, log-binomial and logistic regression models with splines. RESULTS: Metrics of peak inhalation exposure, indices of skin exposure, and using material containing beryllium salts were significantly associated with skin symptoms and BeS; skin symptoms were a strong predictor of BeS. However, in this cohort, we could not tease apart the independent effects of skin exposure from inhalation exposure, as these exposures occurred simultaneously and were highly correlated. Hierarchical clustering identified groups of participants with unique patterns of exposure characteristics resulting in different prevalence of BeS and skin symptoms. A cluster with high skin exposure index and use of material containing beryllium salts had the highest prevalence of BeS and self-reported skin symptoms, followed by a cluster with high inhalation and skin exposure index and a very small fraction of jobs in which beryllium salts were used. A cluster with low inhalation and skin exposure and no workers using beryllium salts had no cases of BeS. CONCLUSION: Multiple pathways and types of exposure were associated with BeS and may be important for informing BeS prevention. Prevention efforts should focus on controlling airborne beryllium exposures with attention to peaks, use of process characteristics (e.g. the likelihood of upset conditions to design interventions) minimize skin exposure to beryllium particles, and in particular, eliminate skin contact with beryllium salts to interrupt potential exposure pathways for BeS risk.

Assessment of temporal variations of natural radionuclides Beryllium-7 and Lead-212 in surface air in Tanay, Philippines.

Detection of radionuclides in surface air allows researchers to gain further insight on the behavior of radionuclides that may affect human radiation exposure especially in the event of a nuclear emergency. In this study, activity concentrations of naturally-occurring radionuclides Beryllium-7 (7Be) and Lead-212 (212Pb) in surface air and meteorological data collected in Tanay, Philippines from January 2012 to December 2017 were evaluated to determine the impact of atmospheric conditions and processes to airborne radioactivity. Surface air concentrations of 7Be and 212Pb were found to range from 0.00779 ±â€¯0.00188 to 11.2 ±â€¯0.116 mBq/m3 and from 1.371 ±â€¯0.036 to 106.6 ±â€¯1.075 mBq/m3, respectively. 7Be and 212Pb show distinct annual trends, suggesting that atmospheric conditions affect both radionuclides differently and independently. 7Be shows two peak concentrations annually, with the first peak occurring between January to April and the second lower peak occurring between October and November. 212Pb, on the other hand, shows annual peak concentrations occurring between April and June. Ambient temperature showed strong positive correlation with 212Pb concentration in surface air and a weak negative correlation with 7Be; relative humidity and precipitation showed varying degrees of negative correlation with radionuclide concentrations in surface air. Source locations for the unusually high 212Pb activity concentrations detected on 11-13 May 2013 and 19-31 May 2015 determined using WEB-GRAPE and HYSPLIT atmospheric transport models are presented as a case study. The data and findings of this study shall serve as basis for further studies on local and regional atmospheric transport and radiological impact assessment for the implementation of an effective nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response system in the country.

Negative correlation between the number of sunspots and the occurrence of 7Be and 22Na in the surface air and their contribution to radiation doses.

This article presents yearly mean concentrations of cosmogenic radionuclides 7Be and 22Na occurring in dry and wet depositions (fallout) and aerosols. Time dependencies negatively correlated with the yearly mean number of sunspots. Activity concentrations of 7Be and 22Na in aerosols in the surface air had a correlation of near-unity. 7Be in aerosols exhibited a smoother time dependence than 22Na, implying that the production of 22Na is more sensitive to the solar activity than the production of 7Be. The effect of the measured doses on the general population through internal and external exposure to radiation from cosmogenic radionuclides was small.

Beryllium in riverine/estuarine sediments from a typical aquaculture wetland, China: Bioavailability and probabilistic ecological risk.

Beryllium (Be) is of a significant concern because of its mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. However, reports on presences of Be in sediments from aquaculture areas still remain unknown. This study investigated the total concentration and bioavailability of Be in the surface sediments from Rongjiang River and its estuary in a large-scale aquaculture wetland in Chaoshan metropolis, South China; together with its probabilistic ecological risks posed to aquatic organisms. The total and bioavailable concentrations of Be were in the range of 5.11-8.02 and 0.23-0.33 mg/kg, respectively. Total concentration of Be mainly originated from anthropogenic source and bioavailable Be was <6% of the total concentration of Be. The probabilistic ecological risk assessment based on bioavailable concentration of Be showed that surface sediments of Rongjiang River and its estuary had a low (2.91%) probability of toxic effect to aquatic organisms.

Distribution of beryllium-7 (7Be) in the Black Sea in the summer of 2016.

The spatial distribution of 7Be activity in the surface layer of the Black Sea was studied using the data of field observations made during the 87th cruise of R/V Professor Vodyanitskii. Activity of 7Be varied spatially from 4.6 to 9.5 Bq m-3 (mean 7.5 ± 1.3 Bq m-3) where about 9% was found on suspended matter. The minimum values of activity were typical for samples taken in the shelf waters and the maximum-offshore. The influence of different factors on 7Be activity was analyzed. It was revealed that variation of both 7Be wet deposition on the sea surface and concentration of suspended matter were the most significant for spatiotemporal variability of 7Be activity in seawater during the study period. The estimates of 7Be distribution coefficient between dissolved and particulate forms were obtained. This coefficient varied from 1.5·105 to 2.4·105 L kg-1, averaged (1.9 ± 0.3)·105 L kg-1.

INVESTIGATION ON RADIATION SHIELDING PROPERTIES OF SPECIAL CONCRETE IN NEUTRON FIELDS.

This paper presents the results on radiation shielding of special types of concrete, designed for nuclear reactor containments. The research focused on the study of shielding properties against neutron component of ionizing radiation. For this purpose, two types of ionizing source were used: the isotopic reference neutron field of 239Pu-Be in calibration laboratory and the MARIA Research Reactor.

Cosmogenic beryllium-7 in soil, rainwater and selected plant species to evaluate the vegetal interception of atmospheric fine particulate matter.

Beryllium-7 is a radionuclide produced in the upper atmosphere by cosmic-ray spallation with ions of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. It is one of radionuclides that can be used to trace the fine particulate matter of 2.5-µm diameter (PM2.5) and smaller. In this work, 7Be was determined in leaves of 10 plant species collected from streets, parks and open land and in 5 consecutive rains over Alexandria, Egypt. 7Be levels were also measured in soil covered by each type of plant as well as in the nearest uncovered soil to be reference values to determine its intercepted amount and consequently PM2.5. The lowest interception, 17.7 %, was by Ficus elastica L., while Ficus retusa L. intercepted about 45 %. Radiologically, the annual effective dose due to the usage of Thymelea hirsute plant leaves as a medicine and Nicotiana glauca Graham for smoking were 0.013 and 0.66 µSv, respectively. The observed levels in rainwater indicated that 7Be decreased consecutively from 3.1 Bq kg-1 in the first rain to 0.71 Bq kg-1 in the last one during the 2016/2017 rain season. The wet deposition of 7Be is less than 1 % of its total deposition on the ground.