Fatal myocardial disease associated with industrial exposure to cobalt

A man of 48 went into cardiac shock under anaesthesia during an operation for a duodenal ulcer. At necropsy he was found to have changes resembling those seen in cobalt cardiomyopathy and his myocardial cobalt level was grossly abnormal. Subsequent investigations established that he had been exposed to cobalt in his work which involved handling the powdered metal. The dangers of cobalt as an industrial hazard are pointed out and it is suggested that cobalt cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cardiac disease in those employed in the hard metal industry.