Cobalt is a component of cynocobalamin (vitamin B12), which is an essential mineral and coenzymes in many enzymatic reactions, including hematopoiesis.
No function of cobalt in human nutrition other than as an integral part of vitamin B12. The vitamin plays important role in the body, especially in cells where active division is taking place, such as in blood forming tissues of bone marrow.
The main target organs for cobalt toxicity appear to be lungs and heart.
Acute toxicity of cobalt nay be observed as effects on the lungs, including asthma pneumonia and wheezing, that have been found in workers who breathed high levels of cobalt in the air and exposed to its dust and fumes.
Cobalt can erythropoietic when excessive amounts are ingested by humans. Chronic oral administration of high levels of cobalt for the treatment of anemia can cause goiter.
Cobalt toxicity is classically identified with several instances of severe cardiac failure in heavy beer drinkers. In addition who drink large amounts of beer, containing 1-2 ppm of cobalt salts added as a foam stabilizer, in many cases polycythemia, pericardial effusion, thyroid epithelia hyperplasia and neurological abnormalities.
Health Effects of Cobalt Toxicity
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