Is cobalt chloride a health hazard?
Cobalt chloride is like any other industrial chemical, treat it with respect! From a safety standpoint, cobalt chloride is considered harmful when ingested or inhaled at high enough levels. When analyzing this chemical compound, the cobalt ion is the assumed culprit. Here are a few facts about cobalt: • Cobalt is an essential element in humans, as a constituent of vitamin B12. • The general population may be exposed to cobalt in air, drinking water and food. • Human tissues and fluids normally contain low levels of cobalt. • Cobalt has both beneficial and harmful effects on health. At low levels, it is part of Vitamin B12, which is essential for good health. At high levels, it may be toxic. • Cobalt chloride is a common ingredient in animal feed. One of the underlying principles of toxicology is that ‘the dose makes the poison.’ In other words, something is poisonous when it exceeds a certain threshold concentration. Cobalt chloride exposure limits for an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workwe
