| Agent Name |
Copper |
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| CAS Number |
7440-50-8 |
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| Formula |
Cu |
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| Major Category |
Metals |
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| Synonyms |
Copper metal dusts; Copper metal fumes; [NIOSH] |
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| Category |
Elements, Metallic |
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| Description |
Reddish, lustrous, malleable, odorless solid; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Copper exposures can occur while working in copper and brass foundries and smelters; while welding or electroplating; and during the production or use of fungicides, ceramics, pyrotechnics, pigments, and analytical reagents. [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Copper fumes can cause metal fume fever. Hemolytic anemia has been reported after toxic ingestion. [Rosenstock, p. 983] Copper poisoning can cause liver injury and induce methemoglobinemia. [Ellenhorn MJ. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology, 2nd Ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1997, p. 1555] The following copper compounds can cause methemoglobinemia after large doses in experimental animals: copper (II) carbonate; copper (II) chloride; copper (II) hydroxide sulfate; copper (II) nitrate; copper (II) oxide; copper (I) oxide; copper (II) pyrophosphate; copper (II) sulfate; copper (II) acetate; copper (II) sulfate, pentaydrate; copper chloride hydroxide; copper (II) hydroxide; copper sulfide; copper naphthenate; copper (I) cyanide; copper (I) iodide; cupric gluconate; copper (II) arsenate; [HSDB] See "Copper sulfate." |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.2 mg/m3, as Cu(fume), 1 mg/m3, as Cu(dust,mist) |
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| STEL (ACGIH) |
0.1 mg/m3., as Cu(fume) |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
0.1 mg/m3, as Cu(fume),1 mg/m3, as Cu(dust,mist) |
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| MAK |
0.1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction (metal and inorg. compounds) |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
100 mg/m3, as Cu(fume,dust,mist) |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Exposure to copper fume causes upper respiratory tract irritation, metallic taste, nausea, and metal fume fever. It has been reported that no ill effects resulted from exposures to copper fumes at concentrations up to 0.4 mg Cu/m3 [Luxon 1972] and that there is little evidence that copper presents a serious industrial hazard, either from acute of chronic poisoning [Browning 1969]. |
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| Half Life |
Whole body: 4 weeks; [TDR, p. 392] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR ToxFAQs - Copper |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Methemoglobinemia |
Methemoglobinemia, Secondary |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: COPPER, ELEMENTAL
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