Beryllium and You

Beryllium has been used in the electronic industry for many years, and it's no joke.

What is Beryllium?

Beryllium is a hard, grayish metal naturally found in mineral rocks, coal, soil, and volcanic dust.

Beryllium compounds are commercially mined, and the
beryllium is purified for use in aircraft and space vehicle structures, instruments, x-ray machines, nuclear weapons and reactors, mirrors, and certain medications. It is the basis of the gems emerald and aquamarine.

Beryllium ores are used to make specialty ceramics for electrical and high technology applications. Beryllium alloys are used in automobiles, computers, sports equipment (golf clubs and bicycle frames), and dental bridges.

Why can beryllium be harmful?

Very few persons exposed to Beryllium-related material will ever develop the chronic lung disease. The New South Wales Dust Disease Board, which collects data on all "dust" diseases in the State, has recorded only one possible case of beryllium-induced lung disease in many decades of collecting statewide data.

Beryllium can cause a long-term lung disease (berylliosis) in some people by triggering an immune (allergic) response in the body. In general, significant exposure to beryllium in a respirable form is required for any disease to occur, and symptoms may take up to 20 years to develop even after
exposure has stopped.

The allergic component of the disease is not necessarily dose-related. On average, fewer than 10% of people with significant exposures develop the immune response, and only some of these will develop any related symptoms.

Long-term exposure to beryllium can also cause a slight increase in the risk of lung cancer. The risk is very small in comparison with the risk of lung cancer from smoking.

The symptoms of berylliosis include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms are common, so that most people who have these symptoms do not have berylliosis. Occasionally, other areas of the body like the skin, eyes, mouth & nose may develop a rash following contact with dust containing beryllium.

There is no preventive or curative treatment available for berylliosis or chronic beryllium disease. There are some respiratory and topical medications that can ease the severity of the condition(s).

The bottom line for Amateur Radio and electronics hobbyists is:
- understand whether there might be beryllium based ceramics or other compounds in your equipment -- most will be clearly marked; and

- if you break a ceramic component that MIGHT contain beryllium, then clean up the site carefully using dust prevention, collection, and disposal measures.

Peter Ellis VK1KEP

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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