ABSTRACT
Elemental beryllium and its salts are highly toxic, and immunotoxicity represents the greatest risk factor in industrial exposure. In beryllium-using industries (metal extraction, refining and machining, electronics, nuclear weapons manufacture, aerospace, and high-tech ceramics), inhalation of dust containing the metal triggers an immune reaction, potentially resulting in a condition termed chronic beryllium disease (CBD), with a prevalence of 2-5% in beryllium-exposed individuals (1,2).
