We used the pure metal in in the early seventies, ( it's half the weight of
Alumin(i)um,) and has good properties for certain "things". Machinings/dust are a lethal poison, and the metal is cut in sealed facilities. As lumps?-no risk unless sanded/ground, and you are very unlikely to encounter the metal itself. Incorporated in small amounts into alloys like berylium-copper springs or steels for spark-plugs, again there is little risk, because inter-metallic compounds are formed- ie BeCu, BeFe. Other compounds such as BeCl2 will be more reactive, but in fact any dust particles of a certain size will permanently damage the lungs- like coal, wood, rock dusts, etc. You can't cough these up, so the damage is permanent. How are the victims encountering the berylium Trumpy- in mining, refining?
Alan
