Copper toxicity
Copper toxicity | |
---|---|
Other names | Copperiedus |
Kayser-Fleischer ring, copper deposits found in the cornea, is an indication the body is not metabolizing copper properly. | |
Specialty | Toxicology |
Copper toxicity (or Copperiedus) is a type of
Chronic toxicity by copper is rare.[1] The suggested safe level of copper in drinking water for humans varies depending on the source, but tends to be pegged at 1.3 mg/L.[2] So low is the toxicity of copper that copper(II) sulfate is a routine reagent in undergraduate chemistry laboratories.[3]
Signs and symptoms
Acute symptoms of copper poisoning by ingestion include vomiting, hematemesis (vomiting of blood), hypotension (low blood pressure), melena (black "tarry" feces), coma, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of the skin), and gastrointestinal distress.[4] Individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may be at increased risk of hematologic effects of copper.[4] Hemolytic anemia resulting from the treatment of burns with copper compounds is infrequent.[4]
Chronic (long-term) copper exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.[5] Mammals have efficient mechanisms to regulate copper stores such that they are generally protected from excess dietary copper levels.[5][6]
Those same protection mechanisms can cause milder symptoms, which are often misdiagnosed as psychiatric disorders. There is a lot of research on the function of the Cu/Zn ratio in neurological, endocrinological, and psychological conditions.[7][8][9] Many of the substances that protect humans from excess copper perform important functions in the neurological and endocrine systems, leading to diagnostic difficulties. When they are used to bind copper in the plasma, to prevent it from being absorbed in the tissues, their own function may go unfulfilled. Such symptoms often include mood swings, irritability, depression, fatigue, excitation, difficulty focusing, and feeling out of control. To further complicate diagnosis, some symptoms of excess copper are similar to those of a copper deficit.
The
EPA cancer data
The EPA lists no evidence for human cancer incidence connected with copper, and lists animal evidence linking copper to cancer as "inadequate". Two studies in mice have shown no increased incidence of cancer. One of these used regular injections of copper compounds, including cupric oxide. One study of two strains of mice fed copper compounds found a varying increased incidence of
Pathophysiology
Indian childhood cirrhosis
One manifestation of copper toxicity,
Wilson disease
An inherited condition called
Menke's disease
An X-linked recessive trait that is inherited named
Alzheimer's disease
Elevated free copper levels exist in
Diagnosis
ICD-9-CM
ICD-9-CM code 985.8 Toxic effect of other specified metals includes acute and chronic copper poisoning (or other toxic effect) whether intentional, accidental, industrial etc.
In addition, it includes poisoning and toxic effects of other metals including tin, selenium, nickel, iron, heavy metals, thallium, silver, lithium, cobalt, aluminum and bismuth. Some poisonings, e.g. zinc phosphide, would/could also be included as well as under 989.4 Poisoning due to other pesticides, etc.
Excluded are toxic effects of mercury, arsenic, manganese, beryllium, antimony, cadmium, and chromium.
ICD-10-CM
Code | Term |
---|---|
T56.4X1D | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), subsequent encounter |
T56.4X1S | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, accidental (unintentional), sequela |
T56.4X2D | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter |
T56.4X2S | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, intentional self-harm, sequela |
T56.4X3D | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, assault, subsequent encounter |
T56.4X3S | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, assault, sequela |
T56.4X4D | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, undetermined, subsequent encounter |
T56.4X4S | Toxic effect of copper and its compounds, undetermined, sequela |
SNOMED
Concept ID | Term |
---|---|
46655005 | Copper |
43098002 | Copper fever |
49443005 | Phytogenous chronic copper poisoning |
50288007 | Chronic copper poisoning |
73475009 | Hepatogenous chronic copper poisoning |
875001 | Chalcosis of eye |
90632001 | Acute copper poisoning |
Treatment
In cases of suspected copper poisoning, penicillamine is the drug of choice, and dimercaprol, a heavy metal chelating agent, is often administered. Vinegar is not recommended to be given, as it assists in solubilizing insoluble copper salts. The inflammatory symptoms are to be treated on general principles, as are the nervous ones.[23] Treatment can also look like ozone oxidation for environmental toxicity problems, as well as removing sediment in water areas because sediment can be a home for toxicants to reside. [24]
There is some evidence that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) may work as a milder chelator of tissue-bound copper.[25] Alpha lipoic acid is also being researched for chelating other heavy metals, such as mercury.[26]
Aquatic life
Too much copper in water may damage marine and freshwater organisms such as fish and molluscs.
Copper-based paint is a common marine antifouling agent.[30] In the United States, copper-based paint replaced tributyltin, which was banned due to its toxicity, as a way for boats to control organic growth on their hulls. In 2011, Washington state became the first U.S. state to ban the use of copper-based paint for boating, although it only applied to recreational boats.[31] California has also pursued initiatives to reduce the effect of copper leaching, with the U.S. EPA pursuing research.[32]
Copper is an essential elemental for metabolic processes in marine algae. It is required for electron transport in photosynthesis and by various enzyme systems. Too much copper can also affect phytoplankton or marine algae in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. It has been shown to inhibit photosynthesis, disrupt electron transport in photosystem 2, reduce pigment concentrations, restrict growth, reduce reproduction, etc.[33] The toxicity of copper is widely recognized and is used to help prevent algal blooms. The effect of copper is solely dependent on the free copper the water is receiving. It's determined by the relative solubility and the concentration of the copper binding ligands.
Studies have shown that copper concentrations are toxic when marine phytoplankton are confined to areas that are heavily impacted by anthropogenic emissions.[34] Some of the studies have used a marine amphipod to show how copper affects it. This particular study said that the juveniles were 4.5 more times sensitive to the toxins than the adults.[35] Another study used 7 different algal species. They found that one species was more sensitive than the others, which was Synechococcus, and that another species was more sensitive in seawater, which was Thalassiosira weissflogii.[36]
One study used cyanobacteria, diatoms, coccolithophores, and dinoflagellates. This study showed that cyanobacteria was the most sensitive, diatoms were the least sensitive, and the coccolithophores and dinoflagellates were intermediate. They used copper ion in a buffer system and controlled it at different levels. They found that cyanobacteria reproduction rates were reduced while other algae had maximum reproduction rates. They found that Copper may influence seasonal successions of species.[37]
Bacteria
Copper and
References
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- ^ a b "Copper: Health Information Summary" (PDF). Environmental Fact Sheet. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. 2005. ARD-EHP-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2017.
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- ^ Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 12, 2000 / Rules and Regulations. pp. 1976.
- ^ a b US EPA Region 5 (2011-12-28). "Ecological Toxicity Information". US EPA. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Toxicological Profile for Copper". Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ISBN 9781420093681. Archived from the originalon 16 July 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
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- ^ Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Copper, Available Online at: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalsheavy/copper.html
- ^ EPA results for copper and cancer. Accessed March 11, 2011
- ^ "Copper". Merck Manuals — Online Medical Library. Merck. November 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-19.[permanent dead link]
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- ^ "Treatment of high toxicity and high concentration organic wastewater includes adding copper sulfate and sodium sulfate to high toxicity and high concentration organic wastewater and treating organic wastewater by biological denitrification". Web of Science.
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- ^ "Mercury toxicity and antioxidants: part I: role of glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of mercury toxicity. (Mercury Toxicity)". Thorne Research Inc. 2002. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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- ^ Ezeonyejiaku, CD, Obiakor, MO and Ezenwelu, CO (2011). "Toxicity of copper sulphate and behavioural locomotor response of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and catfish (Clarias gariepinus) species". Online J. Anim. Feed Res. 1 (4): 130–134.
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- ^ "Is Copper Bottom Paint Sinking? - BoatUS Magazine". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
- ^ "Marine Coatings: Making Sense of U.S., State, and Local Mandates of Copper-Based Antifouling Regulations". American Coatings Association. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
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