| The Department of Health and Human Services | | | | type develops within three days of an exposure |
| (DHHS) and the International Agency for | | | | to high concentrations of beryllium particles. |
| Research on Cancer (IARC) have determined that | | | | Beryllium (atomic number 4) discovered in 1797 |
| beryllium is a human carcinogen. The EPA has | | | | by French chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin |
| determined that beryllium is a probable human | | | | (1763-1829), is a naturally occurring metallic |
| carcinogen. EPA has estimated that lifetime | | | | element found in rocks, coal, oil, volcanic dust and |
| exposure to 0.04 µg/m³ beryllium can | | | | even the soil in your backyard. Beryllium gets its |
| result in a one in a thousand chance of developing | | | | name from the mineral beryl in which it can be |
| cancer. | | | | found. |
| While solid beryllium is not harmful, the dust | | | | Beryllium's physical and mechanical properties are |
| created as result of working with beryllium metal, | | | | unmatched by any other metal. Beryllium is |
| metal oxides, alloys, ceramics, or salts can be | | | | non-magnetic, lightweight, hard, and can withstand |
| deadly. If ingested into the lungs the dust can | | | | extreme heat, remain stable over a wide range |
| cause scarring leading to beryllium disease and lung | | | | of temperatures, allowing it to function as an |
| cancer. Beryllium disease is. An estimated 2-6% of | | | | excellent thermal conductor. These attributes |
| workers exposed to beryllium eventually develop | | | | make beryllium a unique material suitable for a |
| beryllium disease and up to one third will die as a | | | | host of modern demanding industrial applications. |
| result. Once exposed to beryllium there is a | | | | For many important industries, beryllium is the |
| lifelong risk of developing Acute Beryllium Disease | | | | only suitable material for the job. |
| (ABD). It usually has a quick onset and resembles | | | | A brief list of products dependent on beryllium or |
| pneumonia or bronchitis. | | | | a combination of beryllium and copper would |
| One to fifteen percent of all workers | | | | include:o Battery contactso Electronic connectionso |
| occupationally exposed to beryllium dust develop | | | | Cell phones and base stationso Underwater fiber |
| Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD), a painful incurable | | | | optic cableo Air bag sensorso Power steeringo |
| lung disease. Symptoms of Chronic Beryllium | | | | Fire extinguisherso Sprinkler headso Pacemakerso |
| Disease, also known as berylliosis, include breathing | | | | Lasers for blood testingo High resolution x-rayso |
| difficulties, chest pain, coughing, and general | | | | Mammography equipmento Infrared |
| weakness. While the average latency period is | | | | countermeasure systemso Radar navigation |
| about eight to ten years, Chronic Beryllium | | | | systemso Surveillance satellites, ando Aircraft |
| Disease can develop as late as thirty years after | | | | landing gear components.o Microprocessor |
| last exposure. CBD in some people progresses | | | | connectorso Ultra-high speed optical lasero Airport |
| slowly, but in others much more rapidly. | | | | luggage handlingo Apache helicopterso Fighter |
| Chronic Beryllium Disease | | | | aircrafto Tankso Nuclear weaponso Dental worko |
| Chronic beryllium disease was first described in | | | | Bicycle frameso Toolso Dyes |
| 1946. Symptoms usually include:o labored | | | | Reacting to many cases of what was known as |
| breathing o shortness of breath o cough o fever | | | | "chemical pneumonia", OSHA adopted community |
| o anorexia o weight loss | | | | ambient air standards in 1949 for beryllium that |
| Other effects that have been observed in | | | | remain intact today. The EPA classifies beryllium |
| individuals with severe cases of chronic beryllium | | | | dust and fumes as toxic air pollutants. |
| disease include damage to the right heart | | | | Approximately 800,000 workers in the United |
| ventricle, hepatic necrosis, kidney stones, | | | | States work with and around beryllium. The |
| granulomatous hepatitis and hypercalcemia. | | | | industries in which beryllium can be found |
| Skin lesions are the most common external | | | | include:oElectronics (transistors, heat sinks, x-ray |
| indicators of chronic beryllium disease. and kidney | | | | windows)oAtomic energy (heat shields, nuclear |
| stones can also occur. | | | | reactors, nuclear weapons)oLaboratory work |
| Chronic beryllium disease will continue to progress | | | | (research and development, metallurgy, |
| if left untreated. While there is no cure for chronic | | | | chemistry)oMetal working (pure beryllium, copper |
| beryllium disease, it can be treated. The disease | | | | and aluminum alloys, jet brake pads, aerospace |
| does not progress in all patients. If it does, some | | | | components)oCeramic manufacturing |
| patients' disease progresses faster than others. | | | | (semi-conductor chips, ignition modules, crucibles, |
| While some die within a few years of diagnosis, | | | | jet engine blades, rocket covers)oExtraction |
| others experience a downhill course extending | | | | (Smelting and refining of ore and scrap |
| over decades. | | | | metal)oDental work (alloys and crowns, bridges, |
| Diagnosing Chronic Beryllium Disease | | | | dental plates)oX-ray tube manufacturingoPlastic |
| Chest X-rays and blood tests known as the | | | | moldingoPrecision machiningoRocket parts and |
| beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test, are used | | | | heat shields |
| to diagnose chronic beryllium disease. | | | | If you have been exposed to beryllium and have |
| Acute Beryllium Disease | | | | any symptoms consult your physician immediately. |
| Symptoms of acute beryllium disease include | | | | You may also have damages recoverable in a |
| shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and | | | | lawsuit. Consult an attorney experienced in |
| acrocyanosis. Two types of the acute disease | | | | beryllium litigation. |
| have been identified. The "fulminating" or rapid | | | | |