What Medical Devices Contain Cobalt?

Abstract. Cobalt (Co) alloys have been used for over seven decades in a wide range of medical devices, including, but not limited to, hip and knee implants, surgical tools, and vascular stents, due to their favorable biocompatibility, durability, and mechanical properties.

What devices contain cobalt?

Today it is a metal found in many products ranging from aircraft engines to lithium-ion batteries, including those in electric vehicles. Currently, the largest use of cobalt is in portable consumer electronics like cell phones, laptop computers, and tablets, which are all powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Does stainless steel have cobalt in it?

Historical data suggests that stainless steel alloys, such as the 300 and 400 families, contain between 0.05-0.40 wt% cobalt in a traditional melt, exceeding proposed EU MDR limits.

Why is cobalt used in implants?

Cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr) is a metal alloy of cobalt and chromium. Because of its high strength, temperature endurance and wear resistance, it is commonly used in dental and orthopedic implants.

Is cobalt carcinogenic?

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.

What products contain the most cobalt?

On a global basis, the leading use of cobalt is in rechargeable battery electrodes. Superalloys, which are used to make parts for gas turbine engines, are another major use for cobalt.

Do smartphones contain cobalt?

Cobalt is an essential mineral for the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, laptops and smart phones. It offers the highest energy density and is key for boosting battery life.

What to avoid if you are allergic to cobalt?

What causes cobalt allergy?

• Jewellery [see Jewellery allergy]
• Metal household items (eg, cutlery, zippers, coins, keys,)
• Cosmetics – especially eye shadow, blushers, and compact powders [see Contact reactions to cosmetics]
• Leather.
• Clothing and shoes [see Textile contact dermatitis, Shoe contact dermatitis]
• Hair dye.

What are the symptoms of cobalt allergy?

A cobalt allergy typically begins when you’re exposed to cobalt in eye makeup, tattoos, or industrial products. It causes an itchy, red, scaly rash. A vitamin B12 sensitivity can appear as a rash after you take a supplement.

How do you get rid of cobalt allergy?

Treatment consists of avoiding all contact with sources of cobalt. Treatment of allergic dermatitis includes local emollients, topical corticosteroids to suppress allergic reactions in the skin, and treatment of secondary infection, if any.

Is cobalt still used in joint replacements?

In the modern era of hip replacements, cemented stems (inserted with an epoxy bone cement) are composed of cobalt-chromium metals. Cementless stems (implants in which your bone grows into the metal) are routinely made of titanium.

What is cobalt used for today?

Cobalt, like iron, can be magnetised and so is used to make magnets. It is alloyed with aluminium and nickel to make particularly powerful magnets. Other alloys of cobalt are used in jet turbines and gas turbine generators, where high-temperature strength is important.

What are 3 things cobalt is used for?

Cobalt is used in many alloys (superalloys for parts in gas turbine aircrafr engines, corrosion resistant alloys, high-speed steels, cemented carbides), in magents and magnetic recording media, as catalysts for the petroleum and chemical industries, as drying agents for paints and inks.

What diseases can cobalt cause?

* 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.

Is there cobalt in tap water?

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

How much cobalt is toxic to humans?

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).

Is coffee high in cobalt?

The cobalt content of coffee was found to be considerably higher than that of tea. The content of 5 teas, averaged, was 0,20 μg/g tea and that of 7 coffees was 0,93 μg/g coffee, the average of 3 different methods, each of which averaged 0,75, 0,89 and 1,14 μ/g coffee.

Who is the biggest consumer of cobalt?

China was the world’s leading consumer of cobalt, with more than 80% of its consumption being used by the rechargeable battery industry.

Do eggs have cobalt?

Umpteen dietary resources contain ample volumes of cobalt, namely cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, whole grain cereals such as barley, oats, besides dairy produce, animal meat, fish, oysters and eggs.

Is cobalt used in Apple products?

Apple today released new details on the increased use of recycled content across its products. For the first time, the company introduced certified recycled gold, and more than doubled the use of recycled tungsten, rare earth elements, and cobalt.

Do iphones contain cobalt?

We tallied more than 6% silicon (microchips), 6% copper (wiring) and more than 5% cobalt (a primary ingredient in the lithium-ion battery). Tin accounted for only about half a percent of the iPhone’s total mass; it was used as the soldering agent, to fix the components in place.