Cobalt & compounds: Environmental effects
Description
Cobalt and its salts have high acute (short-term) toxicity on aquatic life. It also has high chronic (long-term) toxicity on aquatic life. There is not sufficient data to determine the acute or chronic toxicity of cobalt and its compounds on plants, birds or land animals. Cobalt and its compounds are highly persistent in water and the environment. Cobalt will bioaccumulate or concentrate in the tissues of fish.
Entering the environment
Industrial emissions of cobalt and or cobalt compounds can produce elevated, but still low level concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Because of its short life expectancy in the atmosphere cobalt and or cobalt compounds is expected to be confined to the local area within which it is emitted.
Where it ends up
Cobalt and its compounds are expected to act like other particles in the atmosphere. The way they deposit in the local area will depend on the local wind and rain. They are expected to remain in the atmosphere from 5 to 15 days.
Environmental guidelines
No national guidelines.
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