He worked as a reporter in college, then earned a master's degree in social psychology before heading to medical school. Workplace disease attracted him because of his desire to prevent illness, not just treat it. Newman thought that decades-old government limits on beryllium exposure had virtually eliminated chronic beryllium disease, also known as CBD or berylliosis. But the research would help him understand the immune mechanism behind a fairly common lung disease, sarcoidosis. And by the end of the battle, the battlefield is trashed.
Most people can inhale beryllium dust or fumes without becoming ill.
But 2 to 6 percent of the population are allergic, triggering an immune response. The body's efforts to surround and attack the beryllium particles causes scarring in the lungs that makes breathing difficult. Eventually, they can't get enough oxygen when they're sitting still. Debilitating as it is, CBD alone rarely kills, Newman says. But there is no cure.