Beryllium pervades today's technologies, from cars and computers through to dental prosthetics. Its popularity is related to its unique properties: it is lightweight, six times stiffer than steel, has a high melting point (1285 ℃) and heat absorption capacity, and is nonmagnetic and corrosion resistant. Beryllium also reflects neutrons and is used for nuclear power and weapons applications. In the year 2000 the US used 390 tons of beryllium, with an estimated value of $140 million.rnBut, the metal has negative health effects: in susceptible individuals, beryllium exposure causes a lung disorder called chronic beryllium disease (CBD) - a debilitating, incurable and often fatal condition. Given beryllium's widespread use, this toxicity makes it imperative to better understand beryllium's chemistry under biological conditions and how this leads to disease and potential cures and therapeutics.
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