Is cobalt-60 A radioactive substance?
Is cobalt-60 A radioactive substance?
IRRADIATION OF FOODS | Processing Technology The commonly used sources of radiation are cobalt-60, a radioactive element emitting γ-rays, or an accelerator producing a beam of electrons.
What type of radiation does cobalt emit?
gamma rays
Cobalt-60 emits two high energy gamma rays, making cobalt-60 both an internal and external hazard. The primary exposure pathways of concern are ingestion (drinking water and fish consumption), and exposure by inhalation and external exposure.
Is cobalt blue radioactive?
Nonradioactive cobalt occurs naturally in various minerals and has long been used as a blue coloring agent for ceramic and glass. Radioactive Co-60 is produced commercially through linear acceleration for use in medicine and industry.
How is cobalt made radioactive?
cobalt-60, radioactive isotope of cobalt used in industry and medicine. Cobalt-60 is the longest-lived radioactive isotope of cobalt, with a half-life of 5.27 years. It is produced by irradiating the stable isotope cobalt-59 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor.
Is cobalt a toxic metal?
It can harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer. Workers may be harmed from exposure to cobalt and cobalt-containing products.
Why is cobalt so toxic?
Sometimes, metal particles (cobalt) are released as the metal ball grinds against the metal cup when you walk. These metal particles (ions) can get released into the hip socket and sometimes the bloodstream, causing cobalt toxicity.
Can I eat cobalt?
Other health effects associated with exposure to high levels of cobalt through ingestion may include: nausea and vomiting, vision problems, dermatitis, thyroid damage, severe damage to the heart, and even death.
Is cobalt toxic?
It can harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer. Workers may be harmed from exposure to cobalt and cobalt-containing products. The level of harm depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.
What is radioactive cobalt used for?
What is it used for? Co-60 is used medically for radiation therapy as implants and as an external source of radiation exposure. It is used industrially in leveling gauges and to x-ray welding seams and other structural elements to detect flaws. Co-60 also is used for food irradiation, a sterilization process.
Is cobalt safe to touch?
Cobalt (Co) is a hard, gray metal that occurs naturally. It is found in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals, including people. It can harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer.
Is cobalt safe for humans?
It is found in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals, including people. It can harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer. Workers may be harmed from exposure to cobalt and cobalt-containing products.
Does milk have cobalt?
Some of the dietary sources that are abundant in cobalt include red meat, milk, fish, cabbage, figs and turnips.
Does chocolate have cobalt?
According to the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, chocolate is one of the foods that have the highest nickel and cobalt content. These alloys are added during the refining process and in constant contact with stainless steel machinery.
Is cobalt a vitamin?
General description. Cobalt is a hard, gray metal element. It’s part of vitamin B-12. This vitamin is essential for making red blood cells (erythropoiesis).
Is cobalt in stainless steel?
For example, cobalt is naturally present in the raw materials (nickel matte, ferroalloy) used to manufacture stainless steel, and is considered to be a benign and beneficial impurity, conferring hardness and durability.
Which vitamin has cobalt?
vitamin B12
Cobalt forms part of the structure of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 has several important functions including making red blood cells and releasing energy from the food you eat.
Is there cobalt in chocolate?
What is cobalt used in today?
Cobalt salts have been used for centuries to produce brilliant blue colours in paint, porcelain, glass, pottery and enamels. Radioactive cobalt-60 is used to treat cancer and, in some countries, to irradiate food to preserve it. Cobalt is an essential trace element, and forms part of the active site of vitamin B12.
Do eggs have cobalt?
Umpteen dietary resources contain ample volumes of cobalt, namely cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, whole grain cereals such as barley, oats, besides dairy produce, animal meat, fish, oysters and eggs.
Is cobalt stable or radioactive?
Natural cobalt is cobalt 59, which is stable and non-radioactive, but other isotopes 54 to 64 are all radioactive (table 1), emitting beta and gamma radiation. Other isotopes not listed in table 1 have short half-lives. Table 1. Cobalt isotopes and their half-lives.
Is cobalt radioactive or poisonous?
Cobalt has several artificial radioactive isotopes, the most important being Cobalt 60. Cobalt 60 is a beta and gamma emitter and is used in radiation therapy, level gauges, and in research. REASON FOR CITATION * Cobalt is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, IARC and EPA.
Is cobalt-60 a radioactive element?
The commonly used sources of radiation are cobalt-60, a radioactive element emitting γ-rays, or an accelerator producing a beam of electrons. Cobalt-60 is produced by neutron bombardment of stable cobalt in a nuclear reactor.
What are common uses for cobalt?
Alloys in Industry. Alloys,or mixtures of metals,make up half the cobalt used each year.