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In the United States, the average concentration of beryllium in the air is very low–about 0.03 nanograms (a nanogram is 1 billionth of a gram) in a cubic meter (Eco–USA: Beryllium). This figure increases to 0.2 nanograms per cubic meter in some cities because beryllium is released from burning coal and fuel oil. Individuals who live near an industry that processes or uses beryllium may be subjected to much higher beryllium levels. Those who live near hazardous landfill sites that contain high concentrations of beryllium may also be exposed to higher than normal levels of the element.
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