Now is the time to play detective and find out if your facility has any products that contain the material. Other news outlets, particularly in communities where beryllium is mined, manufactured or used, have picked up on Roe's 22-month investigative reporting work. The thesis behind Roe's series of articles is that the U.S. government has stonewalled greater hazard controls for beryllium and pressured industry and researchers to downplay health risks. The government allegedly fears more controls might slow beryllium supplies for military weapons. Responding to these allegations, the General Accounting Office decided this past June to formally investigate the government's role in controlling, or not controlling, health hazards posed by beryllium.
Beryllium is indeed a fascinating material.
Its metallic proprieties are also unique and valuable. The metal is only one-third as heavy as aluminum but six times stiffer than steel. One pound of beryllium will absorb as much heat as five pounds of copper. This latter property makes the material especially suited for use in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons components. Coincidentally, the world learned this year that India has nuclear weapons.