Copper health effects

Numerous and disparate copper criteria are proposed for protecting the health of agricultural crops, aquatic life, terrestrial invertebrates, poultry, laboratory white rats, and humans (Table 3.8) however, no copper criteria are now available for protection of avian and mammalian wildlife, and this needs to be rectified. Several of the proposed criteria do not adequately protect sensitive species of plants and animals and need to be reexamined. Other research areas that merit additional effort include biomarkers of early copper stress copper interactions with interrelated trace elements in cases of deficiency and excess copper status effects on disease resistance, cancer, mutagenicity, and birth defects mechanisms of copper tolerance or acclimatization and chemical speciation of copper, including measurement of flux rates of ionic copper from metallic copper. 

Birge, W.J. and J.A. Black. 1979. Effects of copper on embryonic and juvenile stages of aquatic animals. Pages 373-399 in J.O. Nriagu (ed.). Copper in the Environment. Part 2 Health Effects. John Wiley, NY. 

Nriagu (ed.). Copper in the Environment. Part 2 Health Effects. John Wiley, NY. 

Beryllium and its alloys (e.g., beryllium copper) have gained interest in the aerospace industry and specialty sports equipment industry in recent years. Brazing or riveting can be used for joining, but these methods are expensive, and distortion or highly stressed areas may be encountered. The metal must be handled with care when the processing produces dust, chips, scale, slivers, mists, or fumes, since airborne particles of beryllium and beryllium oxide are toxic with latent health effects. Abrasives and chemicals used with beryllium must be disposed of properly. 

The contribution of different metals and metal compounds to society through socioeconomic development and improvement in the quality of life needs no emphasis. In fact, over the ages, human civilization has wimessed the role of metals in the civilized world as exemplified in the Stone Age, Copper Age, and Bronze Age. Metals and metal compounds have offered benefits to society and their improper use has caused harmful health effects to mankind. 

Health effects all copper compounds cause nausea and vomiting, pallor, diarrhea, collapse, and heart failure... 

Tn recent years there has been an increased interest in assessing the human health effects from environmental exposure to trace metals. Studies of occupational exposures and dietary intakes of trace metals have required the refinement and development of analytical techniques for the analyses of low elemental concentrations in complex matrices. Molybdenum is one of the trace metals that has been the subject of intensive study because it is an essential trace element in both plant and animal nutrition. It is an integral constituent of several metalloenzymes including xanthine oxidase, which is the last enzyme in the catabolic pathway of purines. Extensive ingestion of molybdenum has been shown to cause molybdenosis in cattle. Many of the features of this condition can be ascribed to induced copper deficiency. Whether biochemical changes or adverse health effects in humans can be attributed to excessive exposure to molybdenum is not known. 

It may be noted that many toxic metals are also essential for the body, at trace levels. Their absence from the diet can produce various deficiency syndromes and adverse health effects. Such essential metals include selenium, copper, cobalt, zinc, and iron. On the other hand, excessive intake can produce serious adverse reactions. Also, a number of metals, such as aluminum, bismuth, lithium, gold, platinum, and thallium, have been used in medicine. Despite their beneficial effects, excessive intake of these metals and their salts can cause serious poisoning. 

The toxicity of metallic copper is very low. However, inhalation of its dusts, fumes, or mists or its salts can cause adverse health effects. Inhalation causes irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes, nasal perforation, cough, dry throat, muscle ache, chills, and metal fever. Skin contact can result in dermatitis. Many copper(II) salts are toxic. 

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