Working with beryllium or beryllium alloys can create toxic dust and fumes. Brief or small exposures can lead to beryllium disease. You can get chronic beryllium disease if you have ground, sawed or polished beryllium or beryllium alloys, been in a room where beryllium or beryllium alloys are ground, sawed, or polished, had contact with someone who has handled beryllium and may have dust on their clothes. Beryllium disease is often fatal and there is no cure. For more than 50 years government health officials and industry leaders have known that the safety standards for beryllium are inadequate.
Beryllium can also cause lung cancer.
Some workers have become sick shortly after exposure, however the latency period for the disease can be up to 30 years. Your doctor can administer a blood test which can determine if you have been exposed to beryllium and if you are in danger of developing beryllium disease. You can help us understand the scope of the problem by completing a short survey .