“Sure,” said Mark. “It was in the data you showed me. Beryllium was very high in the crust, so it must be in the dust in the air as well.”
Sheffield said, “What if beryllium is there? Let me ask the questions, Vernadsky. Please.”
“Beryllium poisoning, that’s what. If you breathe beryllium dust, nonhealing granulomata, whatever they are, form in the lungs. Anyway, it gets hard to breathe and then you die.”
A new voice, quite agitated, joined the melee. “What are you talking about? You’re no physician.”
“I know that,” said Mark, earnestly, “but I once read a very old book about poisons. It was so old, it was printed on actual sheets of paper. The library had some and I went through them, because it was such a novelty, you know.”
“All right,” said Novee, “what did you read? Can you tell me?”
Mark’s chin lifted, “I can quote it. Word for word. ‘A surprising variety of enzymatic reactions in the body are activated by any of a number of divalent metallic ions of similar ionic radius. Among these activators are magnesium, manganous, zinc, ferrous, cobaltous, and nickelous ions, as well as others. Against all of these, the beryllium ion, which has a similar charge and size, acts as an inhibitor. Beryllium, therefore, serves to derange a number of enzyme-calalyzed reactions. Since the lungs have, apparently, no way of excreting beryllium, diverse metabolic derangements causing serious illness and death can result from inhaling dust containing certain beryllium salts. Cases exist in which one known exposure has resulted in death. The onset of symptoms is insidious, being delayed sometimes for as long as three years after exposure. Prognosis is not good.’ ”
The captain leaned forward in agitation. “Novee, is he making sense?”
Novee said, “I don’t know if he’s right or not, but there’s nothing absurd in what he’s saying.”
Sheffield said sharply, “You mean you don’t know if beryllium is poisonous or not.”