ContaminantDB: Cobalt-60

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (38)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2014-10-10 20:38:48 UTC

Update Date

2026-04-14 20:15:40 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM003929

Identification

Common Name

Cobalt-60

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Cobalt-60, ⁶⁰Co, is a synthetic radioactive isotope of cobalt with a half-life of 5.2714 years. It is produced artificially by neutron activation of the isotope ⁵⁹Co. ⁶⁰Co decays by beta decay to the stable isotope nickel-60 (⁶⁰Ni). Cobalt is a metallic element with the atomic number 27. It is found naturally in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals. In small amounts cobalt is an essential element for life, as it is part of vitamin B12. However, excess exposure is known to exhibit toxic effects. (3, 4, 7)

Contaminant Sources

T3DB toxins

Contaminant Type

Cobalt Compound
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Radioactive
Synthetic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
60Co radioisotope	MeSH
CO-60 Radioisotope	MeSH

Chemical Formula

Average Molecular Mass

59.934 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

59.934 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

10198-40-0

IUPAC Name

(⁶⁰Co)cobalt

Traditional Name

(⁶⁰Co)cobalt

SMILES

[60Co]

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/Co/i1+1

InChI Key

GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-OUBTZVSYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as homogeneous transition metal compounds. These are inorganic compounds containing only metal atoms,with the largest atom being a transition metal atom.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Homogeneous metal compounds

Class

Homogeneous transition metal compounds

Sub Class

Not Available

Direct Parent

Homogeneous transition metal compounds

Alternative Parents

Not Available

Substituents

Homogeneous transition metal

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

Not Available

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Not Available

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Not Available

Biological Roles

Not Available

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

Gray-blue metal

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	Not Available
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	Not Available

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	0 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	-1.3	ALOGPS
logP	0.23	ChemAxon
logS	1.08	ALOGPS
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	0 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	1.78 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-0a4i-9000000000-5ec55e9e276ff34b918f	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-0a4i-9000000000-5ec55e9e276ff34b918f	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-0a4i-9000000000-5ec55e9e276ff34b918f	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-0a4i-9000000000-c4eed668d3af388c4a95	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-0a4i-9000000000-c4eed668d3af388c4a95	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0a4i-9000000000-c4eed668d3af388c4a95	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Inhalational (3) ; oral (3) ; dermal (3); radiation (3)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Cobalt is believed to exhibit its toxicity through a oxidant-based and free radical-based processes. It produces oxygen radicals and may be oxidized to ionic cobalt, causing increased lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and inducing certain enzymes that lead to cell apoptosis. Cobalt has also been shown to block inorganic calcium channels, possibly impairing neurotransmission. Cobalt can also chelate lipoic acids, impairing oxidation of pyruvate or fatty acids. In addition, cobalt may inhibit DNA repair by interacting with zinc finger DNA repair proteins, and has also been shown to inhibit heme synthesis and glucose metabolism. Cobalt may activate specific helper T-lymphocyte cells and interact directly with immunologic proteins, such as antibodies (IgA and IgE) or Fc receptors, resulting in immunosensitization. Radioactive cobalt damages DNA, RNA, and lipids through ionizing events. (3)

Metabolism

Cobalt is absorbed though the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. Since it is a component of the vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), it is distributed to most tissues of the body. It is transported in the blood, often bound to albumin, with the highest levels being found in the liver and kidney. Cobalt is excreted mainly in the urine and faeces. (3)

Toxicity Values

LD50: 503 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) (1) LD50: 25 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rabbit) (9)

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

Internalized radionuclides that emit β particles are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) (8). Cobalt-60 undergoes beta decay.

Uses/Sources

Radioactive cobalt is used for commercial and medical purposes, such as for sterilizing medical equipment and consumer products, radiation therapy for treating cancer patients, manufacturing plastics, and irradiating food. (3)

Minimum Risk Level

Chronic Inhalation: 0.0001 mg/m3 (5) Intermediate Oral: 0.01 mg/kg/day (5) Acute Radiation: 4 mSv (5) Chronic Radiation: 1 mSv/yr (5)

Health Effects

Exposure to high amount of cobalt can cause heart, lung, kidney, and liver damage. Skin contact is known to result in contact dermatitus. Cobalt may also have mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Exposure to cobalt radiation causes cell damage and can lead to severe burns and death at high doses. (3, 4)

Symptoms

Exposure to cobalt radiation may cause acute radiation syndrome, which is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, and possibly coma. (3)

Treatment

Treatment of cobalt poisoning is symptomatic. (3)

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

Not Available

FooDB ID

Not Available

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID

Not Available

BiGG ID

Not Available

BioCyc ID

Not Available

METLIN ID

Not Available

PDB ID

Not Available

Wikipedia Link

Cobalt-60

Chemspider ID

Not Available

ChEBI ID

Not Available

PubChem Compound ID

61492

Kegg Compound ID

Not Available

YMDB ID

Not Available

ECMDB ID

Not Available

References

Synthesis Reference

Not Available

MSDS

Not Available

General References

Not Available

Cobalt-60 (CHEM003929)

Structure for CHEM003929: Cobalt-60