BERYLLIUM
Go to OSHA’s web site at https://www.osha.gov/berylliumrule/index.htmlExternal
Beryllium is a lightweight metal with unique mechanical and thermal properties that make it ideal for use in many applications and industries including defense, aerospace, telecommunications, automotive electronics, and medical specialties.
Beryllium is a naturally occurring metal found in several minerals. It is most commonly extracted from beryl and bertrandite ores. Beryllium and beryllium-containing alloys and compounds have been produced commercially in the US since the 1940s. Production of beryllium oxide began in the late 1950s.
Four NIOSH Divisions have beryllium-related projects:
NIOSH Division | Activity |
---|---|
Respiratory Health Division (RHD) | Occupational respiratory disease (sensitization and CBD research efforts) |
The Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD) | Molecular epidemiology and genetics |
The Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies (DSHEFS) | Lung cancer and other health effects |
The Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART) | Sampling and Analytical Methods |