Copper mutagenic 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. 

There is no antidote for benzidine poisoning. Since it produces reactive metabolites, administration of free radical scavengers would alleviate the toxicity. A complex of benzidine metabolites with copper and hydrochloride is known to decrease its mutagenic effects. 

The release of heavy metals into the environment presents a serious threat. Over recent decades, the annual worldwide release of heavy metals reached 22,000 T for cadmium, 939,000 T for copper, 783,000 T for lead, and 1,350,000 T for zinc.3 Because of their high solubility in the aquatic environments, heavy metals can be absorbed by living organisms and enter the food chain.6 Exposure to high levels of these metals has been linked to cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects on... 

Reutova NV (2001) Mutagenic potential of copper compound and modification of effects of silver iodide. Genetika 37 617-623. 

The toxic effects of cadmiun are further manifested by a negative action on the metabolism of iron, copper and zinc which results in a deficiency of these metals with relevant disturbances. Cadmium also exerts teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects [10]. 

Toxicology ACGIH TLV/TWA 10 ppm LD50 (oral, rat) 156 mg/kg, (subcut., mouse) 1150 mg/kg, (skin, rabbit) 277 mg/kg poison by ing., skin contact, IP mod. toxic by subcut. severe human skin irritant can cause dermatitis corrosive human mutagenic data experimental teratogen, reproductive effects TSCA listed Precaution Flamm. liq. dangerous fire hazard exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizers corrosive to copper and copper alloys, aluminum, zinc, and... 

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