H1072en.pdf - Haynes International, Inc.

12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATIONIn solid form this material poses no special environmental problems. Metal powders, fumes, or dusts may havesignificant impact on air and water quality. Airborne emissions, spills, and releases to the environment (discharge tostreams, sewer systems, ground water, surface soil, etc.) should be controlled immediately.Ecotoxicity: Few plants accumulate cobalt at greater than 100 ppm, the level at which severe phytotoxicity would occur.There is little tendency for chromium III bioaccumulation along the food chain.Environmental Degradation: In water, cobalt is adsorbed greatly to hydrolysate or oxidate sediments. It may be takeninto solution in small amounts through bacteriological activity. In water, chromium III oxide is expected to eventuallyprecipitate to sediments. In air, chromium III oxide is primarily removed by fallout and precipitation. Soils with a highchromium content (