Dangers of Beryllium

Beryllium is an amazing metal. Its extraordinary combination of strength and light weight has made it useful in a wide variety of applications from golf clubs to dental fillings and triggers for nuclear bombs. But is it also extremely dangerous. Inhalation of even small amounts of the metal particles generated by fabrication of the metal can cause a severe and deadly disease.

Lisa Maier, MD, MSPH, and her colleagues recently reported eight previously unrecognized cases of chronic beryllium disease among people who merely lived in the community surrounding a beryllium manufacturing plant. Manufacturing plants have, in general, been cleaned up in recent decades, but Dr. Maier's findings highlight the dangers posed by beryllium not only to current workers but to those workers and community members exposed at some time in the past. Read the abstract.

It is important to know that not every individual who is exposed to beryllium will experience health effects. Visit your physician if you think you may have health effects related to beryllium exposure.

Learn more about chronic beryllium disease.