Abstract

TOXICITY DUE TO EXPOSURE OF COBALT AND ITS INORGANIC SALTS ON HUMAN AND ANIMAL

Dr. Hassen A.H.Bennasir, Shanmugam sridhar*

Abstract

Cobalt is a metal of widespread distribution in the environment. There are almost 100 minerals of which it is an essential constituent and which have many industrial and commercial uses. Cobalt and cobalt compounds belong to the classic noxious agents encountered in industry but are also known to affect non-occupationally exposed individuals. The general population may be exposed to cobalt in the air, water and food. Inhalation is an important route of occupational exposure to cobalt in relation to health risks. Most cobalt in the human body originates from the food sources , however the gastrointestinal route is of lesser importance, due to its limited intestinal absorption. The toxicity and carcinogenicity of some cobalt compounds (in the nasal cavity, larynx and lungs) in experimental animals, as well as in the occupationally exposed population, are well documented. The objective of this paper is to summarize the current overview of the occurrence and sources of cobalt in the environment, and the effect of this metal and its compounds on both humans and on animals. As this topic is very broad, this review is briefly concerned with the kinetics and metabolism of cobalt, effects on the health and biological monitoring.

Keywords: cobalt, environment, sources, radioactive, toxicity, absorption, distribution, elimination.