The employees of the Boy Scouts ring manufacturer could be covered under this lawsuit if the manufacturer purchases their beryllium directly from Brush Wellman. We urge the Boy Scouts of America to immediately halt the sale of all beryllium jewelry and issue a recall for a beryllium-containing jewelry sold by your organization. In addition to Boy Scout jewelry, beryllium is used in military hardware, automobiles and airplanes, dental work, electronics, computers and cell phones. Working with beryllium and beryllium alloys can create toxic dust or fumes. People exposed to beryllium dust or fumes can develop chronic beryllium disease or develop lung cancer.
Beryllium disease is often fatal and there is no cure.
There are no known safe levels of beryllium exposure. The federal government has set safety standards to protect the health of workers who handle beryllium and beryllium alloys. The workers who make the beryllium Eagle Scout ring are in danger of developing and dying from beryllium disease. While the ring manufacturer is ultimately responsible for the health and safety of it s workers, we believe BSA can set a good example for its young members by discontinuing the sale of beryllium-containing jewelry. Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter.