Is Cobalt A Carcinogen?

Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer. Workers may be harmed from exposure to cobalt and cobalt-containing products. The level of harm depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done. Cobalt is used in many industries.

What kind of cancer does cobalt cause?

Increased mortality from lung cancer has been found among workers in the hard metal industry [10]. In addition to cobalt, hard metal also contains tungsten carbide.

Is cobalt a known carcinogen?

Based on the laboratory animal data, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that cobalt and cobalt compounds are possibly carcinogenic to humans.

Why is cobalt carcinogenic?

RESULTS Two different mechanisms of genotoxicity, DNA breakage induced by cobalt metal and especially hard metal particles, and inhibition of DNA repair by cobalt (II) ions contribute to the carcinogenic potential of cobalt compounds.

Are cobalt salts carcinogenic?

Cobalt metal (without tungsten carbide or other metal alloys) and soluble cobalt(II) salts were classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) on the basis of sufficient evidence for cancer in experimental animals and strong mechanistic evidence (related to key characteristics of carcinogens in human primary

What foods are high in cobalt?

Good food sources of cobalt include:

• fish.
• nuts.
• green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach.
• cereals, such as oats.

How does the body get rid of cobalt?

In the rare case that you have large levels of cobalt in your blood, you may need hemodialysis (kidney machine) and get medicines (antidotes) to reverse the effects of the poison.

Is cobalt toxic to humans?

It can harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer. Workers may be harmed from exposure to cobalt and cobalt-containing products. The level of harm depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

Why is cobalt harmful to humans?

* Cobalt may cause an asthma-like allergy. Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest tightness. * Cobalt may affect the heart, thyroid, liver and kidneys. * Repeated exposure to Cobalt dust can cause scarring of the lungs (fibrosis) even if no symptoms are noticed.

How much cobalt is toxic?

The LD ₅₀ value for soluble cobalt salts has been estimated to be between 150 and 500 mg/kg. Thus, for a 100 kg person the LD₅₀ would be about 20 grams. Soluble cobalt(II) salts are “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (IARC Group 2B Agents).

What is the problem with cobalt?

Waste generated from mining cobalt and other metals can pollute water, air and soil, leading to decreased crop yields, contaminated food and water, and respiratory and reproductive health issues. Miners reported that working conditions were unsafe, unfair and stressful.

Why is cobalt controversial?

The DRC supplies about 70 percent of the world’s Cobalt, but 80% of its industrial cobalt mines are owned or financed by Chinese companies. This dynamic has disproportionately favored China and has led to hostility among the Congolese government and its domestic mining companies.

Is cobalt blue toxic?

Cobalt blue (CoAl₂O₄) is used as an intensely blue, easy-to-synthesize, and stable pigment. However, cobalt is toxic and environmentally harmful. Synthesizing alternative pigments with lower toxicity but a similar color and intensity has been challenging so far.

How long does cobalt stay in the body?

Elevated blood levels of cobalt and chromium ions can persist for at least 1 year after revision, especially in patients with high levels of exposure.

Is cobalt chloride a carcinogen?

Cobalt chloride (CAS No. 7646-79-9) is classified as hazardous: Category 2 carcinogenic substance, with the risk phrase ‘May cause cancer by inhalation’ (T; R49) in HSIS (Safe Work Australia).

Is cobalt still used in beer?

[2] Cobalt sulfate adulteration of beer was discontinued after this study came out. Trace analysis of metals, such as cobalt, is normally measured in food and polymer products with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

Are tomatoes high in cobalt?

Total Co accumulation in tomatoes was as high as 873 μg g⁻¹ in roots, 124 μg g⁻¹ in stems, 167 μg g⁻¹ in leaves and 21 μg g⁻¹ in fruit–flowers. Cobalt was detected in all parts of the tomatoes, though not in fruit–flowers at lower treatment conditions.

Does vitamin B12 contain cobalt?

Cobalt is a core element of vitamin B₁₂ (cyanocobalamin), which is essential for the prevention of anemia in humans¹.

Does tap water contain cobalt?

In most drinking water, cobalt levels are less than 1–2 ppb. For most people, food is the largest source of cobalt intake.

Does cobalt cause dementia?

Chromium and cobalt toxicity may have caused permanent but unchanging brain damage in the patients, which in turn may have caused the cognitive problems. Alternatively, metal poisoning may have triggered early onset dementia in these patients.

Is there a blood test for cobalt?

Blood cobalt levels can be used in the assessment of occupational exposure or toxic ingestion. Symptoms associated with cobalt toxicity vary based on route of exposure and may include cardiomyopathy, allergic dermatitis, pulmonary fibrosis, cough and dyspnea.