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What Are the Dangers of Cobalt?

Cobalt is a metal element with the atomic number 27 and the symbol Co. The metal is most commonly found in the form of a compound and serves a variety of uses, such as for sterilizing medical equipment and providing an anti-oxidation coating to jewelry. While day-to-day handling of trace cobalt is not necessarily dangerous, being overly exposed to high levels of the compound can become toxic to your health.

  1. Flammability

    • Cobalt has the ability to ignite and/or explode when cobalt dust comes into contact with air or oxygen. As a preventative measure, cobalt dust must be properly maintained in areas that do not expose it to oxidants and have effective ventilation systems. Workers who are proximal to a cobalt-induced fire or explosion can suffer severe burns, injuries and health hazards from inhaling the dust and particles released into the air.

    Health Hazards

    • Cobalt dust and particles are inhaled and can cause acute or chronic health conditions after enough exposure. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, cobalt dust has the potential to cause thyroid disorders, lung disease, interstitial fibrosis and interstitial pneumonitis. Chronic cobalt poisoning can even get into the bone marrow and might be a possible carcinogen.

    Radiation

    • Cobalt-60, a cobalt-based radionuclide, has radioactive properties that can cause radiation poisoning upon exposure. Exposure to this type of gamma radiation can cause cancer because it seeps into the body's organs and tissues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Whole-body counting is a technique used to test and measure the gamma radiation in someone's body to determine whether or not they were exposed to the compound.

    Environment

    • Since cobalt exists naturally in the environment -- namely in the Earth's core -- animals and plants are used to some exposure to the element. However, when an abundance of cobalt is released into the atmosphere or the environment, it can saturate the soils and sediments, causing damage to plant and animal life. Animals that graze on plants that are part of cobalt-saturated soils might develop health effects that can render them sick, or they may die. Additionally, animals and plants that have high levels of cobalt from exposure may transfer the cobalt to humans when they are consumed.

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