There are several forms of berylliosis.

Acute b. can happen from a single exposure to dust of either the metal
or any compounds. It can manifest itself as a skin, lung or eye disorder
and sorts itself out after a few months of non-exposure. A heavy dose
can cause an irreversible lung inflammation resulting in death within a
few days.

Chronic b. results from the exposure to minute quantities of dust over a
period of time. This takes the form of an emphysema-like disease with
reduced lung capacity.

The problem with Be is that it is really the oxide that is toxic, but it
is quite reactive and forms easily released oxide on exposure to the
air, so that handling the metal can be dangerous. This is exacerbated by
the fact that the metal is very brittle and, when machined, tends to
break off in crystal-sized pieces, which oxidise rapidly. Combined with
its extremely low density (the metal has an SG of ~1.85), this makes for
myriad toxic particles floating around.

The toxicity of Be cannot be compared with that of heavy metals, like
Cu, Pb, Ag etc. Just look at a periodic table and you'll find it's right
at the top (#4). These are cumulative poisons, which reside in the
organs, while Be is more of a very severe irritant, made dangerous
because of its lightness. Nor can it be compared with asbestos (there
are several kinds of asbestos, some of which are harmless). The
dangerous forms of asbestos (mostly from Canadian and US mines) have a
fibre diameter which permit entry into the alveoles, where the tissue is
actually mechanically damaged by penetration and which can cause a
mutagenic alteration of the lung cells.

Brian

Mike Fenner wrote:

>Agreed that all dust is eventually bad for you when breathed, but in
>addition in the case of beryllium it can be extremely bad. The fine
>particles when inhaled by susceptible (~5%? of population) individuals cause
>nodules to grow in the lungs.
>
>The condition is called Berryliosis. It has been known since the 1930s when
>it was discovered from the wives of factory workers getting the condition.
>The route of contamination was laundering their husbands clothes.
>
>Whether this is worse or quicker than asbestosis or any other "-osis" I
>can't say, but it reduces lung function, is irreversible, incurable and
>shortens affected people's lives.
>
>
>
>Regards
>
>Mike
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Leadfree [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
>Sent: 17 May 2004 13:45
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [LF] beryllium
>
>
>I seem to remember, many years ago, that a company called Berylco got into
>trouble due to the finding that BeO was a dust hazard.  I am not sure why
>it is any more of a hazard than say Alumina or Boron Nitride or asbestos
>since I am unaware of any chemical reactions.  I think it is an example of
>an extreme reaction to a fixable problem.  Whether it was management greed
>or careless manufacturing practices, I don't know.    I have to ask the
>same question about Lead.  Why is Lead more toxic than Bismuth?  Why is
>Silver more toxic than other metals?  I think it has to do with usage and
>availability.  Which concludes that if something is removed as a hazard,
>there is always something else to take its place as an hazard.  This, I
>believe, is the call to arms in this dialog, since any problem can be
>solved with care and control.self-restraint?).  But then all of the world's
>problems would be solved.
>
>After 25 years here, I am now among the formerly 1300 people who are being
>let go as the operation in the US  closes, since all of the major PC
>manufacturing is moving offshore to CHINA.  Another case of management
>greed and unhealthy competition.
>
>Sayonara.
>
>James P. Canner
>Senior Applications Engineer
>Murata Electronics North America
>1900 W. College Ave
>State College PA 16801-2799
>(814)-237-1431 x 2032
>[log in to unmask]
>
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