Exposure Risks:
Industries and Occupations
When people think about exposure to beryllium, those who work in the atomic energy and defense industries usually come to mind. Exposure hazards also exist in other industries, however, including the space, aeronautics, computer, and electronics fields. Grinders, machinists, hot press operators, and welders who come into contact with beryllium or its compounds are at particular risk. Even dental technicians who machine or polish dental alloys containing beryllium may be affected. Generally, any process or workplace where beryllium can become airborne, in the form of microscopic particles, dust, or fumes, presents a serious health hazard for workers.

A nationwide problem

Department of Energy and other government facilities that use beryllium are located throughout the United States. In addition, potential exposure risks may exist at certain private plants nationwide. See a list of plants and facilities.

Secondary exposure

The risk of exposure is not limited to those working directly with beryllium–it extends to coworkers, support or maintenance staff at a plant using beryllium, and to the beryllium worker’s family members. For example, janitors or secretaries at a workplace that uses beryllium may be exposed to beryllium dust, fumes or gases. The family member of a beryllium worker who brings home beryllium dust on shoes or clothing also risks exposure.

Environmental exposure

In the United States, the average concentration of beryllium in the air is very low–about 0.03 nanograms (a nanogram is 1 billionth of a gram) in a cubic meter (Eco–USA: Beryllium). This figure increases to 0.2 nanograms per cubic meter in some cities because beryllium is released from burning coal and fuel oil. Individuals who live near an industry that processes or uses beryllium may be subjected to much higher beryllium levels. Those who live near hazardous landfill sites that contain high concentrations of beryllium may also be exposed to higher than normal levels of the element.

Workplace list

Below is a list of plants at which potential beryllium exposure risks may exist or have existed. It is arranged by state, company or plant name, and city or town:

Arizona California Colorado Florida Illinois Massachusetts
Michigan Missouri New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio
Pennsylvania Tennessee Utah Washington Wisconsin  

This list is not meant to be all-inclusive.  

Arizona
Brush Wellman Inc., Tucson

California
ASTECH, a division of TRE Corporation, Santa Ana
Ceradyne Inc., Santa Ana
General Atomics, La Jolla
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore
Lockheed Martin, San Jose

Colorado
Coors Porcelain, Golden
Rocky Flats Plant, Denver
University of Denver Research Institute, Denver

Florida
American Beryllium Co., Sarasota

Illinois
Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., North Chicago
Olin/Blockson Chemical, Joliet
Olin Brass, East Alton

Massachusetts
 Brush Wellman Inc., Newburyport
Franklin Institute, Boston
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Norton Co., Worcester
Nuclear Metals, Inc., Concord
Wyman Gordon, Inc., Brayton, North Grafton

Michigan
AC Spark Plug, Flint
Getty–Michigan Corp., Adrian
Speed Ring Experimental & Tool Company

Missouri
Kansas City Plant, Kansas City

New Mexico
Los Alamos National Laboratories, Los Alamos

New Jersey
National Beryllia, Haskell
U.S. Pipe and Foundry, Burlington

New York
Burns & Roe, Inc., Maspeth
General Astrometals, Yonkers
Trudeau Foundation, Saranac Lake

North Carolina
Beryllium Metals and Chemical Corp., Bessemer City
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Ohio
 Battelie Memorial Institute, Columbus
Beryllium Production Plant (Brush), Luckey
Brush Wellman Inc., Cleveland and Elmore
Clifton Products Co., Clifton and Painesville
General Electric Company, Cincinnati and Evendale
Kettering Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati

Pennsylvania
Berylco, Hazleton (out of business)
Beryllium Corp. of America, Hazleton and Reading
Brush Wellman Inc., Reading
Cabot Corporation, Hazleton
Kawecki–Berylco, Hazleton (out of business)
McDaniel Refractory Co., Beaver Falls
NGK Metals Corporation, Reading
Vitro Manufacturing, Cannonsburg

Tennessee
NGK Metals Corporation, Sweetwater
Y—12 Plant, Oak Rridge

Utah
 Brush Wellman Inc., Delta

Washington
Boeing, Seattle
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Hanford, Washington

Wisconsin
Ladish Co., Cudahy

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