Cobalt allergy

What is Cobalt and where is it found?

Cobalt is a metal that occurs naturally in soil, dust, and seawater. It is usually found in association with nickel. Cobalt and its salts have many uses, the following table shows some of the many sources of cobalt and where or how we can come into contact with them, whether at home or at work.

Home / personal sources

• Cobalt blue pigment in porcelain, glass, ceramics, ceramics and enamels
• Cobalt blue in crayons and blue and green watercolor paints.
• Metal-plated objects
  • Buckles
  • Buttons
  • Zippers
  • Snaps
  • Costume jewelery
  • Utensils
  • Tools

• Medical uses
  • Vitamin B12 preparations for the treatment of anemia
  • Metal prostheses
  • Dental plaques
• Hair Cobalt pigment colorants produces light brown shades of hair
• Antiperspirant preparations

Job sources

• Cobalt is used as a binding agent in hard metals to create drills, cutting tools, mechanical parts.
• Cobalt naphthenate is a common catalyst in the manufacture of polyester resins.
• Manufacture of alloys containing cobalt.
• As an oxidizing agent in automobile exhaust controls, in the rubber tire industry and in electroplating
• Cement industry; cement contains cobalt oxides
• Cobalt blotters or blotters are found in certain paints and varnishes.
• Binding agent in the carbide industry
• Wet clay containing cobalt used by pottery workers

What are the reactions to cobalt? allergy?

Reactions to contact with cobalt in an allergic individual include allergic contact dermatitis and irritating contact dermatitis. Cobalt was appointed Contact Allergens of the year 2016 by the American contact Dermatitis Society.

Vitamin B12 injections given to allergy sufferers can cause a red, tender, and itchy area around the injection site. Oral ingestion Vitamin B12 is known to cause untreatable hand eczema It is some patients.

In many cases, allergic reactions are not caused solely by cobalt sensitization. For example, metal objects almost always contain nickel as well, and nickel and chromium are present in the cement industry. Nickel and chromium are also potent sensitizers therefore; Allergic reactions may not only be due to cobalt but also to a simultaneous specific allergy to nickel and chromium.

Cobalt allergy can cause a erythema multiform type eruption. It can also cause airborne contact dermatitis.

Am I allergic to cobalt?

Cobalt allergy is diagnosed from the medical history and by performing patch tests

Nickel and cobalt are always found together in alloys and salts because it is too expensive and impractical to separate these two metals. Therefore, patch tests should always include both cobalt and nickel. Cobalt and nickel patch test results can be confusing as it is extremely difficult to obtain pure solutions of each individual metal. The cross-reaction between cobalt and nickel is not very common, as patch tests have shown that several patients have strong reactions to cobalt but not nickel. Combined allergic reactions are not uncommon and represent simultaneous specific sensitizations to each individual metal rather than cross reactions. Intradermal Cobalt tests can also be done to diagnose cobalt sensitivity. Current thinking is that a diagnosis of cobalt allergic dermatitis is justified if the following criteria are met.

Confirmed diagnosis of cobalt allergic dermatitis

• Patient really exposed to cobalt
• Positive patch test for 2% cobalt chloride in aqueous solution
• The 1: 1000 intracutaneous cobalt chloride test produces a delayed tuberculin reaction in aatopic individual

Management of cobalt allergy

Identifying potential sources of contact and avoiding them is the only long-term management strategy for cobalt allergy. Once dermatitis appears on the skin, treatment is like any other acute dermatitis / eczema:

• Current corticosteroids
• Emollients
• High school treatment bacterial infection (Staphylococcus aureus)

When it cannot be avoided, various methods can be used to try to minimize exposure. Brief contact with metal devices is generally not a problem, except for very sensitive people.

Methods to minimize exposure to cobalt

• Use metal tools such as scissors, kitchen utensils, and combs that have plastic or wooden handles.
• If necessary, wear vinyl or rubber gloves to avoid contact (however, do not use for wet work as moisture increases the penetration of cobalt into the skin)
• Items like keys can be coated with several coats of clear nail polish.
• In the workplace, wear protective clothing and use non-contact techniques.

What should I do to avoid a cobalt allergy?

In the workplace, try to avoid exposure to cobalt, however this may not be feasible, therefore use measures to minimize exposure as described above. Identify possible sources of exposure using the Material Safety Data Sheets; These are required for all chemicals and substances that you may come into contact with in the workplace. If you must use products that contain cobalt, wear gloves or other protective clothing to avoid contact with your skin.

Outside of the workplace, the best way to avoid a cobalt allergy is to learn about possible sources of cobalt. Read product labels and do not use any that contain cobalt or any of its alternative names. If you are not sure, ask your pharmacist for advice or a suitable alternative. Only use cosmetics, antiperspirants, and hair dyes that you know are cobalt-free. Avoid metallic jewelry. Sterling silver and platinum jewelry are generally tolerated.

A cobalt allergy stain test kit containing disodium-1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonate (nitrous salt R) is available from contact allergen supply companies and can be used to detect cobalt in metallic items such as jewelry.

Alert your doctor or dentist to the fact that you are allergic to cobalt. your dermatologist you may have more specific advice, especially if you are very sensitive to cobalt.

Alternative names for cobalt

Cobalt is also known by various other names. These include:

• Cobalt dichloride, hexahydrate
• Cobalt (II) hexahydrate hydrochloride
• Cobalt blue
• Cobaltous Chloride Hexahydrate.

Avoid all of this. At work, request a material safety data sheet to help identify safe alternatives, thus avoiding contact with material containing cobalt.

More information

CAS number: 7791-13-1

Appearance: Silver gray, glossy, carbide

Sensitizer: cobalt

Patch test:

• 2% of cobalt chloride in aqueous solution
• Cobalt sulfate 2% in aqueous solution
• 5% of cobalt naphthenate in aqueous solution

Sources of Cobalt Exposure

• Alloys
• Buttons
• Buckles
• Carbide
• Ceramics
• Cement
• Clay
• Cosmetic products
• Costume jewelery
• Cutting tools
• Dental plaques
• Detergents
• Flypapers
• Glass
• Hair dye
• Cookware
• Metal prostheses
• Oils
• Paintings
• ceramics
• Polyester resin
• Printing inks
• Rock drills
• Rubber tires
• Tools
• B12 vitamin
• Zippers