7-29-2001: CHICAGO (AP) - Companies whose workers handle the toxic metal beryllium often fail to warn workers about the hazards of exposure to the metal, putting them at risk of a potentially fatal lung disease, a newspaper reported.

Beryllium disease once was associated primarily with the defense industry, where the metal was used in nuclear weapons, but it is increasingly common among workers in private and consumer industries, the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday.

The disease, caused when the metal's dust slowly damages the lungs of people who have been exposed, is rare, incurable and often fatal.

The number of beryllium disease cases among workers in private industries has increased in the past few years, according to the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, a leading respiratory disease hospital that diagnoses more beryllium illness than any other health care facility.

Since 1985, the hospital has diagnosed about 100 cases of beryllium poisoning among workers outside the defense industry and major beryllium production plants, said Dr. Lee Newman, a scientist at the hospital.

Newman called that figure the ``tip of the iceberg,'' saying the disease often goes undetected.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (news - web sites) requires workplace warnings on beryllium and limits on exposure to its dust.

But the newspaper, citing government, court and industry documents, said companies often don't follow those rules and the government doesn't adequately enforce the laws.

Experts say the rise in reported cases of beryllium disease could be attributed to new tests to diagnose the disease and more frequent use of the metal in industries that might not be fully aware of its risks.

Beryllium is used in the electronics, recycling, machining and dental industries because it is lightweight but extremely strong.

The Toledo Blade reported in 1999 that the government had for decades risked the lives of weapons plant workers by allowing them to be exposed to unsafe levels of beryllium.

The Tribune reported that many companies in other industries do not take even basic precautions, such as air monitoring, to protect workers. The newspaper said a check of 30 businesses with beryllium found that none followed all of OSHA's recommended safeguards.