As a member of the general public, you may be exposed to higher than normal levels of beryllium if you live near an industry that processes or uses beryllium.

People who live near hazardous landfill sites that contain high concentrations of beryllium may also be exposed to higher than normal levels of beryllium.

Beryllium, as a chemical component, occurs naturally in tobaccos and can be inhaled from cigarette smoke.

People who smoke may breathe considerably more beryllium than people who do not smoke.

Beryllium metal and metal alloys may be found in consumer products such as electronic devices (e.g., televisions, calculators, and personal computers) and special nonsparking tools.

Metabolism

Beryllium can enter your body if you breathe air, eat food, or drink water containing it.

Beryllium will not enter your body from skin contact with the metal unless the skin is scraped or cut and beryllium particles become imbedded in the wound.

Only a small amount of beryllium may enter your body if your skin comes into contact with a beryllium salt dissolved in water.

When you breathe air containing beryllium, beryllium particles can be deposited in the lungs.

The beryllium that you breathe in slowly dissolves in the lungs and moves slowly into the bloodstream.

Some of the beryllium deposited in the lungs can be moved to the mouth and then swallowed;

the rest can remain in your lungs for a long time.

If you eat food or drink water that contains beryllium, less than 1% passes from your stomach and intestines into the bloodstream.

Therefore, most of the beryllium that you swallow leaves your body through the feces without entering the bloodstream.