What is normal serum cobalt level?
A cobalt concentration <1.8 μg/L indicates a normal amount of cobalt exposure. A cobalt concentration ≥1.8 μg/L indicates high cobalt exposure and risk of systemic toxicity. However, thresholds at which symptoms of cobalt toxicity occur have not been defined.
What does high cobalt mean?

Excessive cobalt can produce systemic toxicity affecting multiple organ systems. Adverse effects related to cobalt toxicity can occur at levels of 7-10 μg/L or more. Previously, cobalt toxicity has been seen in the form of pulmonary disease in those who inhaled cobalt dust while drilling or polishing.
How do I lower my cobalt levels?
One method of treating ASR Hip Replacement patients with high levels of chromium and cobalt in their blood is chelation therapy. The process involves the administration of chelating agents—the most common of which is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)—to remove the poisonous metals from the body.
What is considered high chromium blood count?
High Chromium Levels: Greater than 1ng/mL According to the Mayo Clinic Medical Laboratories, “blood serum concentrations greater than 1ng/mL in a patient with Cr-based implant suggest significant prosthesis wear.” Their research also indicates that these levels increase the longer you have the hip implant.

What level of cobalt is toxic?
According to one reference, a serum cobalt metal ion concentration greater than 1 µg/L is suggestive of excessive cobalt exposure, and a value greater than 5 µg/L is considered likely toxic[11].
What causes high cobalt?
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.
What are the symptoms of too much cobalt?
Neurologic dysfunction: There are various neurotoxic symptoms described in patients with presumed cobalt toxicity, including hearing loss, tinnitus, optic nerve atrophy, visual impairment, convulsions, vertigo, headaches, tremors, polyneuropathy, incoordination, cognitive decline, and depression.
What happens when you have too much cobalt in your body?
Cobalt is toxic to the heart muscle. It can cause heart muscle disease (toxic cardiomyopathy) after too much exposure. An increase in red blood cells (polycythemia) may be a symptom of too much cobalt. Not treating this issue can cause congestive heart failure.
What causes high chromium levels?
Smoking, eating and cooking with stainless steel utensils and cookware, and having chrome orthopedic devices implanted can all result in chromium exposures.
What foods are high in cobalt?
Some of the dietary sources that are abundant in cobalt include red meat, milk, fish, cabbage, figs and turnips.
What food has cobalt?
Good food sources of cobalt include:
- fish.
- nuts.
- green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach.
- cereals, such as oats.
What are the symptoms of cobalt?
There are three basic ways that cobalt can cause poisoning….Symptoms
- Cardiomyopathy (a problem where your heart becomes big and floppy and has problems pumping blood)
- Deafness.
- Nerve problems.
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Thickening of the blood.
- Thyroid problems.
- Vision problems.
Does B12 have cobalt in it?
Answer: Cobalt is one of the components of vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin.
What happens if you have too much chromium in your body?
The chromium found in foods will not hurt you. But taking excessive chromium supplements can lead to stomach problems and low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ). Too much chromium from supplements can also damage the liver, kidneys, and nerves, and it may cause irregular heart rhythm.
What are symptoms of too much chromium?
There have been some reports of chromium causing occasional irregular heartbeats, sleep disturbances, headaches, mood changes, and allergic reactions. Chromium may increase the risk of kidney or liver damage. If you have kidney or liver disease, do not take chromium without talking to your doctor first.
Is cobalt vitamin B12?
Is cobalt a B12?
Does human body need cobalt?
Cobalt is an integral part of vitamin B12 and therefore essential for the function of cells. It is also involved in the production of red blood cells and the production of antibacterial and antiviral compounds that prevent infections.
What causes high cobalt levels?
What vitamins make you itch?
Can too much vitamin B12 cause a rash or itchy skin? Yes, taking large amounts of vitamin 12 can cause a skin reaction in people who are sensitive to cobalt. The symptoms include an itchy rash.
What can a zinc deficiency cause?
Zinc deficiency is characterized by growth retardation, loss of appetite, and impaired immune function. In more severe cases, zinc deficiency causes hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation, impotence, hypogonadism in males, and eye and skin lesions [2,8,25,26].