Cobalt Toxicity is generally not a concern since it doesn't develop from the normal consumption of foods and beverages, unless - as with nickel - there is a natural tendency to retain too much cobalt, in which case asthma, anxiety or cardiac symptoms may be experienced. However, a number of years ago, cobalt salts were added to beer as foam stabilizers which lead to an epidemic of cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure among beer drinkers. Other effects of overdosing on cobalt include abnormal thyroid functions, polycythemia and overproduction of red blood cells, with increased production of the hormone erythropoietin from the kidneys... Full Text