Cobalt-60 Nuclear Generating Station. The cobalt targets are substituted here for a small number of fuel assemblies. After entering a living mammal (such as a human being), some of the is excreted in feces. The remainder is taken up by tissues, mainly the liver, kidneys, and bones, where the prolonged exposure to gamma radiation can cause cancer. Over time, the absorbed cobalt is eliminated in urine. Cobalt is an element used to make steel. Uncontrolled disposal of in scrap metal is responsible for the radioactivity found in several iron-based products. In August 2012, Petco recalled several models of steel pet food
Cobalt(III) hydroxide Cobalt(III) hydroxide Cobalt(III) hydroxide or cobaltic hydroxide is a chemical compound with formula or . It is an ionic compound, with trivalent cobalt cations and hydroxyl anions . The compound is known in two structurally different forms, "brownish-black" and "green". The brownish-black form is a stable solid and can be prepared by reaction of water solutions of cobalt(II) chloride and sodium hydroxide, followed by oxidation with ozone. The green form, formerly thought to be cobalt(II) peroxide, apparently requires carbon dioxide as a catalyst. It can be prepared by adding hydrogen peroxide to a solution of cobalt(II) chloride in 96% ethanol