Exchange of information

Karen Callebaut

On behalf of the Cobalt Development Institute and in the framework of the European Risk Assessment Ecolas NV is gathering information on diffuse sources of cobalt. Issues involved are:

• verification of cobalt emission potential from corrosion of outdoor-used electroplated devices, outdoor used electronics and outdoor used ceramics
• identification of quantification methods for cobalt emissions from:
  • traffic (catalysts, exhaust fumes from off road traffic, fuel used by boats, fuel used in aviation, tire wear)
  • agriculture (burning of natural gas)
  • households (release of tobacco smoke, outdoor use of cobalt-containing paints)
• estimation of background air concentrations of cobalt

Any research carried out on these issues is welcomed.