By: Jacqueline Ammah

Beryllium is valued for its strength, elasticity, lightness, and excellent thermal conductivity. Primarily used as an alloy, about a quarter of world production is in pure form; the rest is processed to form salts and oxides. Recognized as toxic in the early 1900s, with the discovery of pulmonary berylliosis, beryllium has since been associated with the development of other serious debilitating diseases. Today, thousands of workers risk inhaling beryllium dusts and fumes everyday as it is now used in many products, contrary to the 1940′s when use was confined to defense applications. Moreover, the families of workers risk carry-home exposures. Only recently has the nature of the risk has been widely recognized. Read More…