COBALT

Cobalt is a hard ferromagnetic, silver-white, hard, lustrous, brittle element. Its atomic number is 27.


As cobalt is widely dispersed in the environment humans may be exposed to it by breathing air, drinking water and eating food that contains cobalt. Skin contact with soil or water that contains cobalt may also enhance exposure.

Cobalt is not often freely available in the environment, but when cobalt particles are not bound to soil or sediment particles the uptake by plants and animals is higher and accumulation in plants and animals may occur.

Cobalt is beneficial for humans because it is a part of Vitamin 12 , which is essential for human health. Cobalt is used to treat anaemia with pregnant women, because it stimulates the production of red blood cells. The total daily intake of cobalt is variable and may be as much as 1 mg, but almost all will pass through the body unabsorbed, except that in vitamin B12.

However, too high concentrations of cobalt may damage human health. When we breathe in too high concentrations of cobalt through air we experience lung effects, such as asthma and pneumonia. This mainly occurs with people that work with cobalt.

When plants grow on contaminated soils they will accumulate very small particles of cobalt, especially in the parts of the plant we eat, such as fruits and seeds. Soils near mining and melting facilities may contain very high amounts of cobalt, so that the uptake by humans through eating plants can cause health effects.
Health effects that are a result of the uptake of high concentrations of cobalt are :
- Vomiting and nausea
- Vision problems
- Heart problems
- Thyroid damage


Cobalt is a trace mineral which means that we need only small amounts but it is still an important mineral that provides a number of health benefits:
  • Research shows that Cobalt helps repair the myelin sheath (the tissue that surrounds and protects the nerves). It may be beneficial to those with autoimmune disorders which damage the myelin sheath.
  • Cobalt is necessary for the body to absorb and use vitamin B-12. Vegetarians, in particular, have a difficult time getting sufficient B-12.
  • Cobalt increase energy by assisting in the transport of glucose from the blood into the cells and by assisting in the formation of red blood cells and the assimilation of Iron.
  • Cobalt stimulates a number of enzymes in the body which helps regulate numerous biological processes.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FAMOUS QUOTATIONS ON MINERAL DEFICIENCY

"You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency" - Dr Linus Pauling Two Unshared Nobel Prize Winner "All disease is a mineral deficiency " - Dr Carey Reams "I have never seen a deformed child born from mineralized parents"- Charles Shaskey "Your mineral needs are even more important than your vitamin needs, since our body can not make minerals"-Dr Henry Schroeder
Read more

Boron

Image
This is mineral with a very low abundance in our mother earth. Its atomic number is 5 and its chemical symbol is B. Elemental Boron is nontoxic to humans and animals. It is of very important uses of human health.It has a very important role in our bones, teeth. It also takes part in the metabolism of many essential minerals, above all especially with Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium. That is why it is very essential element for OSTEOPOROSIS patients. Not only this it is very important for our brain function. It enhances our alertness and brain function.  It improves our memory. As well as it is also responsible for the deficiency of vitamin D. It converts vitamin D in its active form. It activates many hormones specially Estrogen.That is why the post menopausal women have a big problem in absorbing or activating Calcium. So it is an essential element for Arthritis.And to increase the level of Calcium, Magnesium,and Phosphorus.It is also important for the synthesis of estrogen a...
Read more

Iodine

Image
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. Benefits of Iodine: Has a profound affect on growth and metabolism. May protect against radiation poisoning. Enhances health of joints. Promotes healthy Hair, Skin and Nails. Is required for the body to produce thyroid hormones, thyroxin and triiodothyronine. Iodine's primary role is to keep the thyroid gland healthy and manufacturing sufficient thyroxine, a hormone that is needed throughout the body. Iodine supports normal metabolic rates, energy levels and healthy skin hair and nails. Iodine plays an important role in many of the body's functions and is also an important component of healthy connective tissues. Iodine is an Essential Trace Element Critical in Thyroid Production Eighty percent of all iodine is found in the thyroid gland in the neck. The thyroid hormones control the rate of metabolism throughout the body. The two iodine-dependent hormones of the thyroid, thyroxin (T4) ...
Read more