What is Beryllium?
Beryllium is a silvery-gray alkaline earth metal which despite it’s toxicity, is utilized due to it’s attractive qualities, such as it’s high melting point, being a lightweight but strong metal, and due to it being a great conductor of heat and electricity. Even with it’s positives, beryllium also has negatives, such as the risk to individuals who find themselves exposed to it.
Where Does Beryllium Exposure Occur?
Beryllium poisoning can occur in numerous ways and in various environments, causing individuals to be exposed in ways such as:
- Occupational Exposure
- Manufacturing-Workers in industries that produce or use beryllium, such as aerospace, electronics, and nuclear industries, can inhale or come into contact with beryllium dust or fumes during machining, grinding, or processing.
- Construction-Construction workers may be exposed during the demolition of buildings or equipment containing beryllium, especially when materials are disturbed and release dust.
- Mining and Refining-Workers involved in the extraction and processing of beryllium ore can be exposed to beryllium dust or particles.
- Environmental Exposure
- Airborne Particles-People living near beryllium processing plants or mines can be exposed to beryllium particles released into the air, which can be inhaled or settle on surfaces and be ingested.
- Contaminated Soil and Water-Beryllium can contaminate soil and water near industrial sites, leading to exposure through contact with contaminated soil or drinking water.
- Secondary Exposure
- Household Exposure-Workers can bring beryllium dust home on their clothes, shoes, or skin, exposing family members through contact with contaminated surfaces or clothing.
- Community Exposure-Communities near beryllium production facilities may be exposed through airborne dust or contaminated land and water.
- Consumer Products
- Electronics and Appliances-Individuals can be exposed to beryllium through the use of certain electronics or appliances that contain beryllium components, particularly if these items are damaged or improperly disposed of, leading to the release of beryllium dust.
What Are the Side-Effects of Beryllium Poisoning?
Beryllium poisoning/exposure can lead to several adverse health conditions such as:
- Acute Beryllium Disease
- A type of chemical pneumonia that occurs when someone breathes in high concentrations of beryllium dust or fumes. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, hemoptysis, palpitations, decreased appetite, or fever.
- Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD)
- A chronic inflammatory lung disease that can cause shortness of breath, unexplained coughing, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. CBD can take years to develop after exposure, sometimes as long as 30 years. People with CBD develop lesions in their lungs that can lead to scarring, and lung damage and heart failure can occur years later.
- Lung Cancer
- Beryllium exposure can also increase the risk of devoloping lung cancer. Symptoms include coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood, feeling very tired all the time, and weight loss with no known cause.
Beryllium Poisoning Lawsuits
Multiple lawsuits have been filed in the past as a result of pesticide exposure. For example:
- Rocky Flats Litigation: Workers at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant in Colorado filed numerous lawsuits against their employers and the U.S. government, claiming they were exposed to hazardous levels of beryllium. Many workers developed chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and other serious health issues. The lawsuits alleged that the companies and the government failed to protect workers from known dangers associated with beryllium exposure.
- Brush Wellman Lawsuits: Brush Wellman (now Materion), a major producer of beryllium products, faced several lawsuits from workers and their families who developed CBD after being exposed to beryllium dust in the company’s manufacturing plants. The plaintiffs claimed that Brush Wellman did not provide adequate safety measures or warnings about the risks of beryllium exposure, leading to severe and sometimes fatal health conditions.
- Los Alamos National Laboratory Cases: Employees at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where beryllium was used in various research and development projects, filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Energy and contractors. The lawsuits alleged that the workers were not adequately protected from beryllium exposure, leading to cases of chronic beryllium disease and other health problems.
- Community Exposure Cases: In some cases, communities living near beryllium processing facilities have filed lawsuits claiming that beryllium dust released into the air contaminated their environment, leading to health issues such as CBD and increased cancer risks. These lawsuits typically argue that the companies involved were negligent in controlling emissions and protecting the surrounding population.
Gianaris Trial Lawyers: Your Advocate in Beryllium Poisoning Cases
At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we understand the devastating effects of beryllium exposure. Our expert team offers free consultations to determine if you have a legitimate claim. We specialize in suing large companies responsible for toxic exposure to chemicals, including beryllium. With our relentless advocacy and extensive experience, we can help you secure justice and get the compensation you deserve. Our commitment is to put your needs first and make the legal process as straightforward as possible.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to beryllium poisoning, contact us today. Your fight is our fight, and we won’t rest until justice is served.
