Beryllium-Copper: How safe?

now more and more hifi accessories like power plug, receptacles has Beryllium-copper in them. just curious how safe are beryllium-copper in our normal household? say receptacles with BE-copper contact, and with constant plugging in/out of the plug, will it be a concern?

just me being paranoid....

From Wikipedia

As beryllium is toxic there are some safety concerns for handling its alloys. In solid form and as finished parts, beryllium copper presents no particular health hazard. However, breathing its dust, as formed when machining or welding may cause serious lung damage. [1]Beryllium compounds are known human carcinogens when inhaled. [2] As a result, beryllium copper is sometimes replaced by safer copper alloys such as Cu-Ni-Sn bronze.[3]

Beryllium copper is used in springs and other parts that must retain their shapes during periods in which they are subjected to repeated strain. Due to its electrical conductivity, it is used in low-current contacts for batteries and electrical connectors. Because Beryllium copper is non-sparking but physically tough and nonmagnetic, it is used to make tools that can be used in extremely cold environments like Antarctica. Various tool types are available eg screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, cold chisels and hammers [4]. Another metal sometimes used for non-sparking tools is aluminium bronze. Compared to tools made of steel, Beryllium copper tools are more expensive, not as strong and wear out more quickly. However, the advantages of using Beryllium copper in hazardous environments outweigh these disadvantages.

Example of a non-sparking tool
Beryllium copper has also been used for armour piercing bullets, [5] though any such usage is unusual because bullets made from steel alloys are much less expensive, but have similar properties.
Beryllium copper is also used for measurement-while-drilling tools in the directional (slant drilling) drilling industry. A few companies manufacturing these tools are GE (QDT tensor positive pulse tool) and Sondex (Geolink negative pulse tool). A non-magnetic alloy is required as magnetometers are used for calculations received from the tool.
When beryllium is alloyed with copper it's safe (unless you machine it or something like that). The dust then can be dangerous. A solid chunk of pure beryllium is harmless. A good analogy is mercury fillings. Mercury metal is toxic, but when alloyed (amalgamized) with other metals, it's safe.
Geez, I have a set of beryllium copper golf irons that I don't use, maybe I should visit e-bay.

As stated in Albert's reference, it is my understanding that some years ago, stricter environmental controls increased costs related to manufacturing items with this material.
The information about beryllium dust vs the beryllium/copper alloy is correct.

Take a ride with me in my way-back machine. Decades ago when I worked in environmental control one of the sites I inspected was a beryllium smelter. I think it was the only one in the United States. Since I was told the ore came from South America, I always thought it was funny that the plant was located in my territory in a small town in northwestern Ohio.

The smelting and machining processes required strict environmental controls and personal protection including respirators and skin protection. The finished beryllium/copper alloy products (non-sparking hand tools)were safe to use without gloves. In fact I saw their non-sparking drum wrenches in use at many of the other sites I inspected.

Bottom line, don't worry about the alloy.