Cobalt — biological monitoring
When to suspect: Hard-metal (tungsten-carbide/cobalt) tool & grinding mfg, Co-alloy & magnet production, diamond-tool making, ceramic/glass pigments, catalysts. Hard-metal lung disease, cardiomyopathy.
Urinary cobalt (µg/L)
| Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1–2 | General-population background |
| 15 | ACGIH BEI — end of shift at end of workweek |
Vitamin B12 supplements and cobalt-containing implants raise levels.
Biological exposure index
ACGIH BEI = 15 µg/L, end of shift at end of workweek.
Basis: ACGIH BEI.
Sample collection & preparation
- Random urine, EOS at end of workweek; metal-free container, NO preservative.
- Avoid contamination (B12, implants). ICP-MS.
Statutory basis. Factories Act 1948 sets only AIR limits (Second Schedule TWA/STEL, s.41F) and mandates the hazardous-process exam (s.41C, ≤12-monthly); it gives NO blood/urine values. The ranges below are ACGIH BEI / OSHA / clinical benchmarks (India has not adopted biological limits into law).
Reference information for occupational-health professionals — not medical advice, and not a substitute for examination by a qualified physician.
All 27 agents — toxicology & biological monitoring
MedFactory — Occupational Health Centre software for Indian factories