Solubility of cobalt in cement

Area of Science:

• Environmental chemistry
• Dermatology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Chromate in cement is a known sensitizer causing allergic contact dermatitis.
• Cobalt, also present in cement as cobalt oxides, has been implicated in cement eczema.
• The solubility and sensitization potential of cobalt oxides in cement require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the solubility of cobalt oxides in cement.
• To explore the role of amino acids in cobalt oxide solubility.
• To understand the mechanism of cobalt sensitization in cement eczema.

Main Methods:

• Assessing the water solubility of cobalt oxides in cement.
• Investigating cobalt oxide solubility in the presence of amino acids.
• Evaluating the potential for cobalt-amino acid complexes to elicit patch test reactions.

Main Results:

• Cobalt oxides in cement showed no detectable water solubility.
• Cobalt oxides exhibited partial solubility in the presence of amino acids, forming complexes.
• These cobalt-amino acid complexes have the potential to cause patch test reactions.

Conclusions:

• Cobalt oxides in cement are not significantly water-soluble but can become soluble through complexation with amino acids.
• The formation of cobalt-amino acid complexes may play a role in cobalt sensitization.
• This mechanism could explain why cobalt sensitization in cement eczema is often secondary to chromate sensitivity.