ATM beryllium redux

[Peter Abrahams <telscope@europa.com>]

This from ATMD #402:
>http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/tfacts4.html
>> Has information on Beryllium. 
>I looked through this page ... beryllium doesn't seem to be very
>poisonous if the material is correct.  I seem to recall a long posting
>from someone in the Beryllium industry contesting the statements made
>about the danger from beryllium.  From this WWW page, it appears that
>berillium dust is about as dangerous as glass dust.

This from the web page in question:
>Beryllium can be harmful if you breathe it. The
>effects depend on how much you are exposed
>to and for how long.
>
>High levels of beryllium in air cause lung
>damage and a disease that resembles
>pneumonia. If you stop breathing beryllium
>dust, the lung damage may heal.
>
>Some people become sensitive to beryllium.
>This is called a hypersensitivity or allergy.
>These individuals develop an inflammatory
>reaction to low levels of beryllium. This
>condition is called chronic beryllium disease,
>and can occur long after exposure to small
>amounts of beryllium. This disease can make
>you feel weak and tired, and can cause
>difficulty in breathing.
>
>Both the short-term, pneumonia-like disease
>and the chronic beryllium disease can cause
>death. 

Around 1/9/96, there was a brief discussion on ATMD on beryllium, one
opinion expressed was that it is not so toxic.  Another correspondent noted
that inhalation of small amounts of beryllium dust can, and often does, lead
to berylliosis, a fatal lung disease. This can appear many years after
exposure.   Since ATMers would likely abrade and polish mirror materials, my
opinion is that one should not work this material.  
This is a very expensive, exotic material; but the dismantling of military
installations, and the highly unusual materials that appear at astronomy
swap meets, dictate caution.
The ATMD archives contain this discussion, with references; and I could
e-mail the messages to interested parties.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////
  Peter Abrahams    telscope@europa.com
the history of the telescope, the microscope,
   and the prism binocular