The determination of trace amounts of cobalt in water is of
great interest because cobalt is important for living species as complexed
Vitamin B12. The deficiency of cobalt in humans and animals
results in anemia [3], while large amounts of cobalt lead to
toxic effects (vasodilatation, flushing and cardiomyopathy), usually
after occupational exposure to cobalt dusts (cobalturia, cobaltemia)
[4]. Since one of routes of incorporation of cobalt into the human
body is by ingestion, therefore its determination in drinking
water becomes very important. Because the cobalt concentration
levels are very low in water samples, sensitive analytical techniques
are required to obtain low detection limits.