Cobalt

RTECS #

GF8750000

CAS #

7440-48-4
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

September 2018

Molecular Weight

58.93

Molecular Formula

Synonyms

Aquacat
C.I. 77320
Cobalt (ACGIH:OSHA)
Cobalt metallic
Cobalt-59
Kobalt (German, Polish)
NCI-C60311
Super cobalt

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
DNA Damage	leukocyte/human	3 mg/L	MUREAV 392,31,1997
DNA Damage	lymphocyte/human	25 µmol/L/1H	TOXID9 12,430,2008
micronucleus test	leukocyte/human	600 µg/L	MUREAV 392,31,1997
micronucleus test	leukocyte/human	0.6 mg/L/15M	MOCAT* 18,177,2003
other mutation test systems	leukocyte/human	6 mg/L/24H	TXAPA9 227,299,2008

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
implant/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 75 mg/kg	Tumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria Musculoskeletal: Tumors	ZEKBAI 52,425,1942
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 1.25 mg/m³/2Y- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Bronchogenic carcinoma	TXCYAC 333,195,2015
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 2.5 mg/m³/2Y- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Endocrine: Adrenal cortex tumors	TXCYAC 333,195,2015
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 1.25 mg/m³/2Y- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Blood: Leukemia	TXCYAC 333,195,2015
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 5 mg/m³/2Y- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Gastrointestinal: Tumors	TXCYAC 333,195,2015
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 1.25 mg/m³/2Y- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Bronchogenic carcinoma	TXCYAC 333,195,2015
intramuscular/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 126 mg/kg	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Gastrointestinal: Tumors Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	NATUAS 173,822,1954
intramuscular/rat	toxic dose: 126 mg/kg	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	BJCAAI 10,668,1956

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, kidney	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 50 mg/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (lysosomal damage): neutral red assay etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TXAPA9 253,178,2011
In Vitro/jah	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 50 mg/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (lysosomal damage): neutral red assay etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TXAPA9 253,178,2011
In Vitro/max	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 50 mg/L/1W	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (lysosomal damage): neutral red assay etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TXAPA9 253,178,2011
In Vitro/mzx	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 50 mg/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (lysosomal damage): neutral red assay etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TXAPA9 253,178,2011
intraperitoneal/mouse	lowest published lethal dose: 100 mg/kg		EQSSDX 1,1,1975
intraperitoneal/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 100 mg/kg	Vascular: Regional or general arteriolar or venous dilation Liver: Other changes Blood: Other changes	INMEAF 15,482,1946
intratracheal/rat	lowest published lethal dose: 25 mg/kg		NTIS** AEC-TR-6710
intratracheal/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 250 mg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVN5* -,452,1989
intratracheal/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 50 mg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Liver: Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), diffuse Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in tubules (including acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis)	VCVN5* -,452,1989
intratracheal/rat	lowest published lethal dose: 25 mg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosis (interstitial) Liver: Fatty liver degeneration	VCVN5* -,452,1989
intratracheal/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 2500 µg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema	HBTME* -,511,2007
intratracheal/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 25 mg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosis (interstitial) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosing alveolitis	HBTME* -,511,2007
intravenous/rabbit	lowest published lethal dose: 100 mg/kg		EQSSDX 1,1,1975
intravenous/rat	lowest published lethal dose: 100 mg/kg		EQSSDX 1,1,1975
oral/human	lowest published lethal dose: 0.28 mg/kg	Brain and Coverings: Other degenerative changes Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema	VCVN5* -,457,1989
oral/rabbit	lowest published lethal dose: 750 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity)	AIPTAK 62,347,1939
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 6171 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Behavioral: Ataxia Gastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea	ATDAEI 1,686,1992
Tank with water/Daphnia	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 21 µg/L/48H		TIVIEQ 31,125,1995

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.1 mg/m³/4W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosis (interstitial)	VCVN5* -,463,1989
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 2.5 mg/m³/105W- intermittent		TXCYAC 333,195,2015
inhalation/pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 µg/m³/6H/13W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Changes in pulmonary vascular resistance Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	AIHAAP 36,17,1975
inhalation/rabbit	lowest published toxic concentration: 10 mg/m³/4H/1W- intermittent	Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	VCVN5* -,457,1989
inhalation/rabbit	lowest published toxic concentration: 10 mg/m³/2H/56D- intermittent	Behavioral: Food intake (animal) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Emphysema Liver: Fatty liver degeneration	VCVN5* -,457,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m³/24H/13W- continuous	Brain and Coverings: Other degenerative changes Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve Liver: Other changes	VCVN5* -,460,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.09 mg/m³/24H/4W- continuous	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from afferent nerve	VCVN5* -,460,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.09 mg/m³/24H/8W- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Urine volume decreased or anuria Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Dehydrogenases	VCVN5* -,460,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.09 mg/m³/24H/8W- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Proteinuria Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Dehydrogenases	VCVN5* -,460,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.09 mg/m³/24H/17W- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Multiple enzyme effects Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): TCS cycle	VCVN5* -,461,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 2.5 mg/m³/105W- intermittent		TXCYAC 333,195,2015
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 200 mg/m³/17W- intermittent	Vascular: Regional or general arteriolar or venous dilation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in tubules (including acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis)	GTPZAB 3(3),36,1959
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 2 mg/m³/4D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosing alveolitis	HBTME* -,511,2007
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 390 mg/kg/15D- intermittent	Endocrine: Evidence of thyroid hypofunction	TOXID9 -,189,2008
oral/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 360 mg/kg/36D- continuous	Liver: Other changes Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)	VCVN5* -,458,1989

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.02 mg/m³	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-Confirmed animal carcinogen	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 52,363,1991
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Human Inadequate Evidence	IMEMDT 52,363,1991
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review: Group 2B	IMEMDT 86,133,2006
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Group 2B	IMEMDT 52,363,1991
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TRBMAV 33,85,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AEMBAP 40,239,1973
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ADTEAS 5,51,1972
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		KOTTAM 11,1300,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FOREAE 7,313,1942
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MIBUBI 9,321,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FCTXAV 9,105,1971
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		85CVA2 5,63,1970
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		PEXTAR 12,102,1969
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		GSAMAQ 123,109,1971
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AMTODM 3,209,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 127,55,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 127,63,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 15,431,2000
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 613,103,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,631,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		JJATDK 26,191,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HBTME* ,511,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,515,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HTOPA* 1,595,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 681,93,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,3,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,31,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,73,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		PTPAD4 113,229,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		COCPH* -,701,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 26,185,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 760,1,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 759,27,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		EMMUEG 55,278,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 768,14,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FCTOD7 86,298,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 770,106,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 770,170,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TXCYAC 387,43,2017

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³ (dust and fume)	DTLVS* 3,59,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypt	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 0.05 mg/m³, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	TRK-TMW 0.5 mg/m³;KZW 2 mg/m³, inhal, sen, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	TRK-TMW 0.1 mg/m³;KZW 0.4 mg/m³, inhal, sen, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 0.02 mg/m³ (fume, dust), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 0.01 mg(Co)/m³ (fume, dust), carc, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 0.02 mg/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 0.4 mg/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 0.02 mg(Co)/m³ (dust, fume), sen, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	Occupational Exposure Limit 0.05 mg/m³, 2B carc, a1 sen, s2 sen, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Co)/m³, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 0.05 mg/m³ (dust and fume), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 0.05 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 0.02 mg/m³, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 0.05 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 0.2 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	short term exposure limit 0.5 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 0.05 mg/m³, Sen, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 0.05 mg/m³, carc 2, inhal, skin, sen, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 0.02 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, sen, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Co)/m³ (metal,fume,dust)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, fume and dust	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Co)/m³	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Co)/m³	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO COBALT METAL, dust and fume-air	10H time-weighted average 0.05 mg/m³	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code X5978; Number of Industries 8; Total Number of Facilities 151; Number of Occupations 7; Total Number of Employees Exposed 1326; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 128
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 19770; Number of Industries 57; Total Number of Facilities 3263; Number of Occupations 86; Total Number of Employees Exposed 78694; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 2650
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 19770; Number of Industries 27; Total Number of Facilities 1331; Number of Occupations 27; Total Number of Employees Exposed 8513

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/93/110724/AS)
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Cobalt and compounds as Co, 7027
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements by ICP, 7300
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements in blood or tissue, 8005
NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens,2016:Reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID121

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health