NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Cobalt metal dust and fume (as Co) CAS 7440-48-4
Co RTECS GF8750000
Synonyms & Trade Names
Cobalt metal dust, Cobalt metal fume
DOT ID & Guide
Exposure
Limits
NIOSH REL: TWA 0.05 mg/m3
OSHA PEL�: TWA 0.1 mg/m3
IDLH 20 mg/m3 (as Co) Conversion
Physical Description
Odorless, silver-gray to black solid.
MW: 58.9
BP: 5612°F
MLT: 2719°F
Sol: Insoluble
VP: 0 mmHg (approx)
IP: NA

Sp.Gr: 8.92
Fl.P: NA
UEL: NA
LEL: NA

Noncombustible Solid in bulk form, but finely divided dust will burn at high temperatures.
Incompatibilities & Reactivities
Strong oxidizers, ammonium nitrate
Measurement Methods
NIOSH 7027, 7300; OSHA ID121, ID125G, ID213
Personal Protection & Sanitation
Skin: Prevent skin contact
Eyes: No recommendation
Wash skin: When contaminated
Remove: When wet or contaminated
Change: Daily

First Aid (See procedures)
Eye: Irrigate immediately
Skin: Soap wash
Breathing: Respiratory support
Swallow: Medical attention immediately
Respirator Recommendations NIOSH
Up to 0.25 mg/m3: (APF = 5) Any dust and mist respirator^
Up to 0.5 mg/m3: (APF = 10) Any dust and mist respirator except single-use and quarter-mask respirators*^/(APF = 10) Any dust, mist, and fume respirator*/(APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator*
Up to 1.25 mg/m3: (APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode*/(APF = 25) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a dust and mist filter*^/(APF = 25) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a dust, mist, and fume filter*
Up to 2.5 mg/m3: (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter/(APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece/(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece
Up to 20 mg/m3: (APF = 2000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode
Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions: (APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode/(APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus
Escape: (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter/Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus
Exposure Routes inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
Symptoms Cough, dyspnea (breathing difficulty), wheezing, decreased pulmonary function; weight loss; dermatitis; diffuse nodular fibrosis; respiratory hypersensitivity, asthma
Target Organs Skin, respiratory system
See also: INTRODUCTION