Cobalt

It is a Silvery Grey Magnetic Metal, which is recovered as a by product from Copper & Silver
mining.

Uses:- 1) To manufacture High Temperature Resistant Alloy known as Super Alloy;

principally used in Jet Engine.

2) Cutting of Steel & Rock

3) Used in Magnet

4) Paint Industry

5) In Nickel Cadmium Batteries as a Catalyst

6) Radioactive Cobalt CO60 is used as a source of High Energy Gamma Radiation in

Radio Therapy & Industrial Radio Graphy.

Absorption:- 1) Gut:- 5 to 40% is absorbed through Gut

2) Lungs:- 30% is absorbed through lungs

Storage:- Mainly stored in Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, Muscles & Fat

Excretion:- 80% through Urine, remaining in the faeces.

Toxicity:- Inhalation of Cobalt powder may cause

1) Hard Metal Fibrosis (Interstitial lung Fibrosis) Characterised by:-

i) Wheezing ii) Dyspnoea iii) Chest Tightness iv) Lung

Functions show Restrictive Defects with Decreased FVC &
Decreased Diffusion Capacity.

2) Corpulmonale

3) Death

4) Bronchial Asthma:- Occupational Asthma. A specific TgE is detected. It

is Type I reaction.

It was being used as a Foam Stabilizing Agent to reduce the

foam in the beer. If Cobalt is mixed in the Alcohol, it is very
very dangerous mixture, causing a) Abrupt Onset of LVF

b) Pericardial Effusion c) Polycythemia

 Mechanism:- Cobalt has Synergistic Effect with Alcohol in
Myocardial Functions. If patient is Malnourished and
consuming Beer suffers most.

5) Thyroid Hyperplasia:- Cobalt inhibits Tyrosine, & thus prevents

Synthesis of Thyroxine, leading to over secretion of TSH

6) Polycythemia:- Mechanism:- Due to increased release of

erythropoietin by kidneys resulting from Tissue Hypoxia.
Tissue Hypoxia may be caused by the inactivation of 2,3 –
Diphospho Glycerate (2,3 DPG) by the impaired release of
oxygen from RBCs. Release of Oxygen from RBCs depleted of
2,3 DPG or by formation of Cobalt Haemoglobin with a
sequence shift of Oxygen Dissociation Curve to the Left ( Shift
to left means Oxygene Release is less).

Medical Surveillance:- 1) Periodic Health Examination with special attention to lung

& Skin

2) Pulmonary Function Tests

3) Periodic X-Ray Chest

Biological Monitoring:- Normal Value in Urine is Less than 3 Micro Mole / Mol of Cretinine