From an article in the current Scientific American on the next generation of U.S. nuclear warheads:
The RRW1 (Reliable Replacement Warhead) would elminate the need for some of the toxic substances often used in weapons, such as beryllium..."Because of the release of the weight requirement, we are able to use substances that are heavier but more environmentally benign," [Livermore Laboratories scientist Bruce] Goodwin says. "We will be able to eliminate an entire [manufacturing] process that produces 96 percent radiological toxic waste that has to be buried and replace it with nontoxic waste that is 100 percent recyclable."
"You replace beryllium with something that quite honestly you could eat and be healthy," he adds...
