COBALT CARBONATE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: Pink powder. May cause sensitization by skin contact which may produce allergic contact dermatitis. May cause sensitization by inhalation which may produce occupational asthma. May cause cancer by inhalation. Suspected of causing genetic defects. May damage fertility. EYE CONTACT: May cause eye irritation. SKIN CONTACT: May cause allergic contact dermatitis if there is prior sensitization. Most rashes associated with cobalt occur on the hands and appear within the first year of occupational exposure to cobalt. INHALATION: May cause cancer by inhalation. Cobalt is a known allergen that produces characteristic symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, dry cough, and labored breathing. Usually the asthma symptoms appear 4-6 hours after exposure and often worsen again later in the same day. Even later asthma reactions to inhaled cobalt may occur up to 48 hours after exposure. Improvement typically occurs when cobalt exposure ceases, e.g. weekends, vacations. Other cobalt-containing compounds such as hard metal dust, but not cobalt powder itself, are associated with subacute fibrosis alveolitis and chronic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. INGESTION: May be harmful if swallowed.