Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in producing beryllium copper which is extensively used for springs, electrical contacts, spot-welding electrodes, and nonsparking tools

It has found application as a structural material for high-speed aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and communication satellites. It is being used in the windshield , brake discs, support beams, and other structural components of the space shuttle.

Because beryllium is relatively transparent to X-rays, ultra-thin Be-foil is finding use in X-ray lithography for reproduction of microminiature integrated circuits.

Natural beryllium is made of 9Be and is stable.

Eight other radioactive isotopes are known. Beryllium is used in nuclear reactors as a reflector or moderator for it has a low thermal neutron absorption cross section.

It is used in gyroscopes, computerparts and instruments where flatness and stiffness, and dimensional stability are required. The oxide has a very high melting point and is also used in nuclear work and ceramic applications. Beryllium and its salts are toxic and should be handled with the greatest of care.

The influence of aerosol suspension from clothing on personal monitor exposure estimates was investigated in a beryllium facility. Samples of 100% cotton and 100% Nomex fabrics used at the beryllium facility were tested. The deposition of airborne beryllium into fabrics was significantly enchanced by electrostatic attraction on cotton but not on Nomex fabrics.

Both fabrics collected more beryllium in motion than on stationary units. Personal monitors mounted in front of fabrics collected more beryllium when the fabrics were agitated than when monitors were placed in the positions of the nose and mouth

Resuspension from cotton was higher than from Nomex. Ressupension of aerosol from garments can cause erroneously high exposure measurements from chest mounted personal monitors. Workshirts worn by employees at a beryllium refinery resuspended beryllium containing dust.

The old shirts resuspended significantly higher quantities of beryllium to the air than did the washed and unwashed new shirts.

A considerable fraction of the Be measured in air was respirable. Fourteen dental casting alloys were analyzed for release of nickel and beryllium into acidic salivary soln in vitro. Corrosion rates at varying pH levels and time in soln were calc over a 120 day period and the possible significance of these rates to allergic reactions or other health hazards were postulated. When the beryllium levels were analyzed for these alloys they were much higher than expected. In each of the alloys, since the nickel cmpd was often 66-78% of the cmpd and the beryllium level a max of 2%, the differences in magnitude of nickel vs beryllium concn might be expected to be on the order of 30/1 or greater. The differences were closer to 8/1. Nickel and beryllium containing dental casting alloys have the potential to be a significant hazard to the lab technician, dentist and patient.
Environmental Fate
ESTIMATES OF ABUNDANCE IN EARTH'S CRUST VARY FROM 2 TO 10 PPM. NATURAL ISOTOPES: 9 (100%); RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES (MASS NUMBERS): 6-8; 10-12. FOUND IN PHENACITE, CHRYSOBERYL PRECIOUS FORMS OF BERYL: EMERALD, AQUAMARINE.

Beryllium is concentrated in silicate minerals relative to sulfides. In common crystalline rocks, the element is enriched in the feldspar minerals relative to ferromagnesium minerals and apparently replace the silicon ion; 85-95% of the total crystal beryllium may be bound in the feldspar structures.

At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Beryllium (powder) waste should be converted into chemically inert oxides using incineration and particulate collection techniques.