ABSTRACT
Beryllium is the fourth lightest element (atomic weight ¼ 9.02) and has chemical properties that make it an excellent material for high-technologic applications.
Unfortunately, it continues to cause a significant burden of illness among those
who work with the material. Lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel,
beryllium has a low density (1.85 g/cm3), high melting point (23498F), high tensile strength and is corrosion resistant. Exposure to beryllium metal, oxide or
alloy dust and fume occurs during the extraction of the mineral from its ores,
beryl and bertrandite, and processing of beryllium into metal alloys and ceramic
products. Perhaps most importantly, exposure occurs during secondary
machining and processing of copper beryllium, aluminum-beryllium, and nickel-
beryllium alloys and ceramic products in other industries, including aerospace,
automotive, biomedical, defense, energy and electrical, manufacturing, sporting
goods, telecommunications, and the recycling and disposing of beryllium-
containing products, such as cell phones, computers, circuit boards, and assorted
electronic parts (Table 1). The spreading use of beryllium in high-technology
applications and various other industries has created a serious public health
problem. (1) The problem is worldwide, with cases of chronic beryllium disease
(CBD) or berylliosis being reported throughout North America, Europe, Asia,
Russia, and Japan. (1) This chapter summarizes our present knowledge, based on
epidemiologic workplace studies, research on the role of the immune response to
beryllium, immunogenetics, and clinical research addressing the recent devel-
opments in CBD detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
