Beryllium, the "mysterious metal," might start to remind you of asbestos, the "miracle mineral," in terms of health concerns for people exposed to the material. I think we're going to be hearing more about beryllium health hazards in the near future, so be prepared. Now is the time to play detective and find out if your facility has any products that contain the material.
Sam Roe, a senior writer for the Toledo Blade newspaper, triggered new concerns over beryllium earlier this year when he wrote the series entitled, "Deadly Alliance: How the Government and Industry Chose Weapons Over Workers." Other news outlets, particularly in communities where beryllium is mined, manufactured or used, have picked up on Roe's 22-month investigative reporting work.