Hard metal disease

Cobalt compounds can be classified as relatively nontoxic (33). There have been few health problems associated with workplace exposure to cobalt. The primary workplace problems from cobalt exposure are fibrosis, also known as hard metal disease (34,35), asthma, and dermatitis (36). Finely powdered cobalt can cause siUcosis. There is Htfle evidence to suggest that cobalt is a carcinogen in animals and no epidemiological evidence of carcinogenesis in humans. The LD q (rat) for cobalt powder is 1500 mg/kg. The oral LD q (rat) for cobalt(II) acetate, chloride, nitrate, oxide, and sulfate are 194, 133, 198, 1700, 5000, and 279 mg/kg, respectively the intraperitoneal LD q (rat) for cobalt(III) oxide is 5000 mg/kg (37). 

Colbalt Hydrogenations of solid fuels and fuel oils Manufacture of terephthalic acid High pressure production of aldehydes Lung irritation (hard metal disease) respiratory sensitization... 

Carbides of Hard metal disease Hyperplasia, metaplasia of... 

Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis ( hard metal disease ), loss of appetite, nausea, cough, blood changes. No... 

Ruokonen E-L, Linnainmaa M, Seuri M, Juhakoski P, Sdderstrom K-0 (1996) A fatal case of hard metal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health 22 62-65... 

Grinding operations have, in the past, involved lung hazards (hard metal disease) from the abrasives in the wheel. Again, effective fixed or portable collection devices exist for grinders. 

Fig. 2.1.3. Hard metal disease. The lower power view shows fairly advanced diffuse interstitial inflammation and flbrosis with numerous airspace macrophages and giant cells. The inset shows several very large giant cells...

Auerbach O, Garfinkel VA, Joubert L (1984) Histologic type of lung cancer and asbestos exposure. Cancer 54 3017-3021 Bar-Ziv J, Goldberg GM (1974) Simple siliceous pneumoconiosis in Negev bedouins. Arch Environ Health 29 121-126 Bech AO, Kipling MD, Heather JC (1962) Hard metal disease. Br J Indust Med 19 239-252... 

Cugell DW (1992) The hard metal diseases. Clin Chest Med 13 269-279... 

Coates EO Jr, Watson JH (1971) Diffuse interstitial lung disease in tungsten carbide workers. Ann Intern Med 75 709-716 Coates EO Jr, Sawyer HJ, Rebuck JW et al (1973) Hypersensitivity bronchitis in tungsten carbide workers. Chest 64 390 Cugell DW (1992) The hard metal diseases. Clin Chest Med 13 269-279... 

Migliori M, Mosconi G, Michetti G et al (1994) Hard metal disease eight workers with interstitial lung fibrosis due to cobalt exposure. Sci Total Environ 150 187-196... 

Cobalt is an essential nutrient at low levels ( 40mgday ). In industrial settings, inhalation of high concentrations of cobalt compounds has led to hard-metal pneumoconiosis, which may result in interstitial fibrosis. Workers with this condition typically develop hypersensitivity to cobalt compounds (symptoms include coughing and wheezing). A few workers have developed skin hypersensitivity after dermal contact with cobalt and its compounds. Cobalt can cause cardiomyopathy and (if inhaled as a dust) interstitial lung disease. 

Cobalt salts are responsible for inducing OA in approximately 5 per cent of exposed workers and should be distinguished from hard metal (mixture of cadmium and cobalt) diseases that result in interstitial pneumonitis and pulmonary... 

Sabbioni E, Minoia C, Pietra R, Mosconi G, Forni a and Scansetti G (1994) Metal determinations in biological specimens of diseased and non-diseased hard metal workers. Sd Total Environ 150 41-54. 

Della Torre F, Cassani M, Segale M, Scarpazza G, PiETRA R and Sabbioni E (1990) Trace metal lung diseases a new fatal case of hard metal pneumoconiosis. Respiration 57 248-253. 

Edel J, Sabbioni E, Pietea R, Rossi A, Torre M, Rizzato G and Fraioli P (1990) Trace meted lung disease in vitro interaction of hard metals with human lung and plasma components. Sci Total Environ 95 107-117. 

Eedan JS (2001) Hard metal-induced disease effects of metal cations in vitro on guinea pig isolated airways. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 174 199-206. 

Lison D, Lauwerys R, Demedts M and Nemery B (1996) Experimental research into the pathogenesis of cobalt /hard metal lung disease. Eur Respir J 9 1024-1028. 

Sjogren I, Hillerdal G, Andersson A and Zet-TERSTROM O (1980) Hard metal lung disease importance of cobalt in coolants. Thorax 35 653 — 659. 

CHRONIC HEALTH RISKS (Molybdenum and insoluble molybdenum and insoluble compounds) based upon animal experiments, accumulation of molybdenum dust in the lungs, spleen, and heart, showed a decrease of DNA and RNA in the kidneys, spleen, and liver exposure to molybdenum dust from alloys or carbides caused "hard-metal lung disease" in humans. (Soluble molybdenum compounds) repeated exposure to soluble molybdenum compounds, based on animals data, suggests an association with the gout can cause anemia in animals exposure to molybdenum trioxide (M0O3), over a period of 3-7 years, has caused pneumoconiosis in workers. 

Chronic fibrotic occupational lung diseases include asbestosis (see p 121), silicosis, coal workers pneumoconiosis, and a few other less common fibrotic lung diseases associated with occupational exposures to such substances as beryllium and hard metal (cobalt-tungsten carbide). These conditions occur after years of exposure and with long latency, although patients may present for evaluation after an acute exposure. Referral for follow-up surveillance is appropriate if exposure is anticipated to be long term. 

Hard metal lung disease (Co + tungsten carbide) Occupational lung cancer (animal data)... 

The skin of hard-metal workers should be subject to regular medical control and early reports of skin disease should be encouraged by the employer. 

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