Beryllium dust can cause fatal and untreatable lung disease, similar to asbestosis.

The symptoms of berylliosis include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms are common, so that most people who have these symptoms do not have berylliosis. Occasionally, other areas of body like skin, eyes, mouth & nose may develop a rash following contact with dust containing beryllium.

There is no preventive or curative treatment available for berylliosis or chronic beryllium disease.