The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has refused to accept lung cancer caused by exposure to beryllium and its compounds at work as a prescribed industrial disease, a move that would have meant sufferers could apply for related state industrial injuries payouts.  “The Health and Safety Executive review of the burden of occupational cancer highlighted the risks of developing a number of cancers following occupational exposures to chemical agents, including an association between beryllium and lung cancer. After reviewing the literature, the council concluded there was no consistent evidence to recommend adding lung cancer following beryllium exposure to the list of prescribed diseases for which people can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) gives beryllium and its compounds a top group 1 human cancer risk rating. According to IARC’s 2012 assessment: “Beryllium and beryllium compounds cause cancer of the lung.”

Beryllium and lung cancer, IIAC position paper, 8 December 2009.
Beryllium and compounds. IARC monograph 100C, 2012.