Cobalt is a compound that occurs in nature. It occurs in many different chemical forms. Pure cobalt is a steel-gray, shiny, hard metal. Cobalt used in industry is imported or obtained by recycling scrap metal that contains cobalt. It is used to make alloys (mixtures of metals), colored pigments, and as a drier for paint and porcelain enamel used on steel bathroom fixtures, large appliances, and kitchenwares. Small amounts naturally occur in food. Vitamin B12 is a cobalt-containing compound that is essential for good health.. Some natural sources of cobalt in the environment are soil, dust, and seawater. Cobalt is also released from burning coal and oil, and from car and truck exhaust. Cobalt enters the environment from natural sources and from the burning of coal and oil. Cobalt stays in the air for a few days. Pure cobalt does not dissolve in water, but some of its compounds do.
Everyone is exposed to cobalt at low levels in air, water, and food. People who live near hazardous waste sites containing cobalt may be exposed to higher levels of this chemical. Food is another source of exposure to cobalt