Acute chemical pneumonitis resulting from exposure to the acid compounds of beryllium has all but disappeared because of improved engineering control methods. Dermatitis resulting from these acid compounds, while much lower in incidence than formerly, still remains somewhat of a problem. Chronic beryllium disease of the lungs also seems to be becoming less frequent today for a number of reasons. The many cases which in the 1940s resulted from beryllium phosphor dust exposure in the fluorescent lamp and neon sign industries are no longer seen, since beryllium has been removed from the phosphor. With the rapidly escalating use of beryllium in the past 15 years in countless new applications of the metal, an increasing number of new chronic cases might have been expected. To date these have not appeared. Even the alloy of beryllium and copper, the most extensively fabricated of all of the beryllium alloys, has not resulted in any documented cases in the past five years. The only reasonable explanation for this is that industries using beryllium and its alloys have learned how to handle and fabricate them safely. It is hoped that the presently used control methods are adequate and that this optimistic outlook will continue without the appearance of additional cases of chronic beryllium disease in the future.

Consultant on Chest Diseases and Member of the College on Occupational Health of the American Medical Association