🚀 go-pugleaf

ps02@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (PENELOPE E. SMITH) writes:

>In article <1992Oct2.113921.2739@mtroyal.ab.ca>, dhayward@mtroyal.ab.ca writes:
>>For years I have been interested in the present and future uses of
>>Berrylium. Due to it's many spectacular properties it should be more
>>common than it is. any info?
>>
>Beryllium oxide is used as the electrical insulator and thermal conductor
>between electrified electronic devices generating heat and their heat sinks.
>If you look in the right trade mags, for example Microwaves&RF (maybe
>Photonics Spectra) you can find mention of these things.
>    (from my husband, Eric Christenson, an Engineer)

I would not be surprised if it never becomes common in products
as it is highly toxic.  I come across beryllium windows in X-ray Tubes for
Powder X-ray Diffractometers.  It is really nasty, not only because
of its toxicity but it is very fragile.  If broken, splinters 
fly everywhere.  Philips, the maker of the X-ray tubes, provide
a free disposal service for used X-ray tubes because berylium is
so toxic.

A recent local TV news item on health risks for artist
mentioned Berylium as giving skin tumours on fingers because of
berylium salts.

Merck goes into more detail:-

"Death may result from short exposure to incredibly low concentrations.
Acute: pneumontis may result from single exposure to berylium
and accasionally is fatal.  Chronic: pulmonary granulomatous
disease may appear in 3 months  to 6 years, often after short
exposure to low concentrations.  Uncertainty as to complete
recovery.  Death rate about 25%.  Rewiew: "Berylium
and Berylliosis" by J. Schubert in Sci. American 199,
no 2, pp 27-33 (Aug. 1958)"
-- 
  Lachlan Cranswick  -  CSIRO             _--_|\  lachlan@dmp.CSIRO.AU
  Division of Mineral Products           /      \ tel +61 3 647 0367
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