Copper chronic exposure

Brown, D.A., S.M. Bay, and G.P. Hershelman. 1990. Exposure of scorpionfish Scorpaena guttata) to cadmium effects of acute and chronic exposures on the cytosolic distribution of cadmium, copper and zinc. Aquat. Toxicol. 16 295-310. 

Buckley, J.T., M. Roch, J.A. McCarter, C.A. Rendell, and A.T. Mathieson. 1982. Chronic exposure of coho salmon to sublethal concentrations of copper - I. Effect on growth, on accumulation and distribution of copper, and on copper tolerance. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 72C 15-19. 

Janssens de Bisthoven, L., A. Vermeulen, and F. Ollevier. 1998. Experimental induction of morphological deformities in Chironomus riparius larvae by chronic exposure to copper and lead. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 35 249-256. 

Saucier, D., L. Astic, and P. Rioux. 1991a. The effects of early chronic exposure to sublethal copper on the olfactory discrimination of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Environ. Biol. Fishes 30 345-351. 

Visviki, L. and J.W. Rachlin. 1994a. Acute and chronic exposure of Dunaliella salina and Chlamydomonas bullosa to copper and cadmium effects on growth. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26 149-153. 

Lung damage after chronic exposure to fumes in industry has not been described. The higher incidence of respiratory cancer reported in copper smelters is due to the presence of arsenic in the ore. ... 

Saucier, D., L. Astic, P. Rioux, and F. Godinot. 1991b. Histopathological changes in the olfactory organ of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) induced by early chronic exposure to a sublethal copper concentration. Canad. Jour. Zool. 69 2239-2245. 

Ingestion of copper sulfate by humans causes vomiting, cramps, convulsions, and as little as 27 grams of the compound may cause deulh. An important part of the toxicity of copper to both plants and animals is probably due to its combination with thiol groups of certain enzymes, thereby inactivating them. The effects ol chronic exposure to copper in animals are cirrhosis of the liver, failure of growth, and jaundice. 

McCarter, J.A., A.T. Matheson, M. Roch, R.W. Olafson and J.T. Buckley. Chronic exposure of Coho salmon to sublethal concentrations of copper-II. Distribution of copper between high- and low-molecular-weight proteins in liver cytosol and the possible role of metallothionein in detoxification. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 72C 21-26, 1982. 

Acute inhalation exposure to elemental selenium dust, possibly including some selenium dioxide, in occupational settings has been shown to irritate mucous membranes in the nose and throat and produce coughing, nosebleed, loss of olfaction, and in heavily exposed workers, dyspnea, bronchial spasms, bronchitis, and chemical pneumonia (Clinton 1947 Hamilton 1949). Chronic exposure of 40 workers at a copper refinery produced increased nose irritation and sputum (Holness et al. 1989). The exact concentration of selenium was not given, but the concentration was reported to exceed 0.2 mg selenium/m3. Confounding variables in this study include concurrent exposure to several other metals including copper, nickel, silver, lead, arsenic, and tellurium. 

A lack of neurotoxicity from copper ingestion contrasts the psychiatric picture of Wilson s disease. Inhalation of copper particles by inhalant abusers who sniff metallic paint results in pulmonary deposits of copper but no apparent neurotoxicity (Wilde 1975). Acute poisoning causes nervous excitation followed by depression, but no other central nervous system symptoms appear, even after massive ingestions (Gosselin et al. 1984 Yelin et al. 1987). The same lack of neurotoxicity applies to chronic exposures (Gosselin et al. 1984). 

C. Chronic exposure to Bordeaux mixture (copper sulfate with hydrated lime) may occur in vineyard workers. Pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, cirrhosis, angiosarcoma, and portal hypertension have been associated with this occupational exposure. 

Mount and Stephan 145) reported a similar investigation in which tests with the fathead minnow were conducted at a water hardness of 31 mg/liter as CaCOa. Copper at 18.4 /xg/liter produced about 50% mortality, retarded growth and sexual development of survivors, and prevented spawning. In addition, larvae from unexposed parents suffered complete mortality when treated at this concentration. Chronic exposure at 10.6 / g Cu/liter produced no observable effects on adults and did not inhibit reproduction. Comparing these results with the earlier study by Mount 142), it may be assumed that growth and reproduction of the fathead minnow are somewhat more affected when copper is administered in soft water. 

McKim and Benoit 133) maintained brook trout under chronic exposure to copper for a period of 22 months. Copper at 32.5 /xg/liter decreased survival and growth of adult fish and substantially reduced egg fecundity and hatchability. Exposure at 17.4 jjLg Cu/liter did not adversely affect adults or hatchability of eggs, but survival of alevins and juvenile stages was reduced by 12% at 3 months and complete mortality occurred after about 6 months. The no-effect level, considered safe for all life-cycle stages, was established at 9.5 /Ltg/liter, and a value of 9.4 g/liter was determined in a subsequent study (734). All tests were performed with soft water having a hardness of 45 mg/litqr as CaCOs. 

In other chronic investigations. Mount (J43) observed high sensitivity of fathead minnows to methylmercury. With chronic exposure for 3 months, nearly complete mortality occurred at 0.23 fxg Hg/liter, and as males did not mature sexually, spawning was precluded at 0.12 /ug/liter. However, there were no effects at 0.07 jug/liter. McKim et aL reported a three-generation study in which brook trout were given chronic exposure to methylmercury at concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 2.93 /iig/liter. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration for mercury was estimated to fall between 0.29 and 0.93 /xg/liter. However, there appeared to be some reproductive impairment at 0.29 /tg/liter, and possibly at lower concentrations. Nevertheless, the brook trout was less affected by mercury than was the rainbow trout, and similar observations were reported in embryo-larval studies with copper (75, 137). 

Serra A, Guasch H (2009). Effects of chronic copper exposure on fluvial systems linking stmctural and physiological changes of fluvial biofilms with the in-stream copper retention. Sci Tot Environ 407 5274... 

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