Introduction to Beryllium: Uses, Regulatory History, and Disease

Beryllium is an ubiquitous element in the environment, and it has many commercial applications. Because of its strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and nuclear properties, beryllium products are used in the aerospace, automotive, energy, medical, and electronics industries. What eventually came to be known as chronic beryllium disease (CBD) was first identified in the 1940s, when a cluster of cases was observed in workers from the fluorescent light industry. The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission recommended the first 8-hour occupational exposure limit (OEL) for beryllium of 2.0

Keywords:

• Beryllium
• Industrial Hygiene
• Occupational Exposure Limit
• Occupational Medicine
• Chronic Beryllium Disease
• Beryllium Sensitization
• Toxicology