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cobalt
Monday 23 March 2009
Cutting tools, metal grinders, polishers, and drilling equipment are fabricated from tungsten carbide with cobalt as a binder. Workers who use these tools or work in related industries can develop asthma and interstitial lung fibrosis (called hard metal disease).
Asthma and lung injury appear to be caused by cobalt, although lung damage may be exacerbated by metal mixtures.