Beryllosis

/bɛrɪˈloʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

A serious lung disease caused by inhaling beryllium dust or fumes.

Etymology

From beryllium plus the medical suffix -osis, meaning a diseased condition or abnormal state; the disease was first identified in workers exposed to beryllium in manufacturing.

Kelly Says

This disease was actually one of the first recognized occupational illnesses to drive major workplace safety regulations in the 1940s-50s, showing how toxic metals can be invisible killers until science catches up.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.