How can you store Nickel and / or Cobalt bars / ingots safely?

Question

Since both of them are known carcinogens, which is the best way to store these metals? Also, is there a known "range" at which the carcinogenic compounds are "active" (e.g. would the compounds be active 10 metres away from the source [cobalt / nickel])?

Thanks a lot!

Kramsor

Answer 1

cobalt radiation cant penetrate water so store them under water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_irradi...

that is how food is irradiation works to store cobalt so people can enter the chamber

as for range its the sq / cube law ie 1 foot =1 exposure ,2 foot 1/4 exposure  just a matter of moler math to determine safe distance

rule of thumb use 2x the shielding that the math says is safe

Warning!!!!!

cobalt has several iso that are deadly ,are used in rad therpery in hospitals (or were)

cobalt is not used any more to color glass for this reason

Answer 2

/////////////// Toxic Metals

Nickel and Cobalt are chemical elements, meaning there are no "compounds" present. Both are pure metals like Gold is, and like Iron, Nickel and Cobalt are also magnetic. I've never heard of either being a carcinogen. Canadian coins contain enough Nickel to be naturally magnetic. Of course I have also read about a study which implanted US quarters into lab mice, who then developed tumors. Of the two, Cobalt might be more toxic, but like Nickel it is a very abundant metal. Besides steel alloys, Cobalt is used in glass and ceramics because it imparts a dark blue color. The only common metal which has a toxic reputation is Lead. It makes a beautiful red pottery glaze, but can't be used in food containers, because the Lead will leach out. Lead based housepaint has been off the market for decades, but old paint is still a health hazard. Uranium was once used to make pretty, fluorescent yellow green "vaseline" glass. Of course it was mildly radioactive. The heating mantles in gas fired lamps still use Thorium oxide, and Thorium is also radioactive. Old watch dials were luminescant because of trace amounts of highly radioactive Radium. Every home ought to have a smoke alarm even though it contains trace amounts of a radioactive element called Americium. Receintly, stone table tops have come under investigation because some kinds of ornamental granite have small amounts of Radium and Uranium and emit the radioactive gas Radon. Mercury filled thermometers need to be safely stored to prevent breaking. Mercury is can be very toxic if it is allowed to escape.

Therefore, with all the other hazards in the environment, I don't think either Nickel nor Cobalt would be a serious concern. Neither rusts like Iron, nor is volitile like Mercury, so just placing samples of either metal in a box is probably perfectly safe. The only hazard I can imagine is the fact they can be magnetized. Therefore I would keep them away from magnetic recording tape.