The respiratory effects of cobalt

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Archives of Internal Medicine; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1990.00390130149024· OSTI ID:6982849

Cugell, D W; Morgan, W K; Perkins, D G; Rubin, A ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ. Medical School, Chicago, IL (USA)

We studied seven subjects with certain manifestations of cobalt-induced lung disease. All worked with cobalt and were involved in either the production or use of hard metal. The mode of presentation varied from an acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis that cleared completely when exposure ceased to progressive severe interstitial fibrosis of the lungs. In one subject reexposure was followed by a recurrence of the symptoms. All subjects showed restrictive ventilatory impairment and a reduction of their diffusing capacity. The radiologic appearances varied greatly. While two subjects had clear roentgenograms with small lung volumes, others had a micronodular pattern or small blotchy nodular infiltrates, and one had diffuse reticulonodulation as is seen in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. The pathologic appearances varied between desquamative interstitial pneumonia and overt mural fibrosis of the alveoli. Six of the seven patients had multinucleated giant cells in their biopsy specimens or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

• OSTI ID: 6982849
• Journal Information: Archives of Internal Medicine; (USA), Vol. 150:1; ISSN 0003-9926
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
COBALT
TOXICITY
LUNGS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
FIBROSIS
LAVAGE
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
BODY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
MEDICINE
METALS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550602 - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)