Albert Ross
Well-Known Member
My original question was about belt sanders .. but we seem to have drifted somewhat .. but how poisonous is this stuff really ?
I thought that copper dust is a respiratory irritant and that antifouling is also best not taken orally
However (according to this extract from http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/toxic-metals/more-metals/copper-faq.html)
"Copper is an essential nutrient for all living things. Copper is a component of more than 30 enzymes in the human body, including some involved in collagen synthesis. In humans copper is necessary for the healthy development of connective tissue, nerve coverings, and bone. It is also involved in both iron and energy metabolism. Copper deficiency, although rare, can cause anemia and connective tissue, bone, and nervous system abnormalities.
The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines, set in 2001 by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies Institute of Medicine, set both the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) and the upper intake levels for copper. The group's intake recommendation is 0.9 milligram of copper a day for adults, more for lactating women (1.3 milligrams) and less for children (0.34 milligrams for children up to three and 0.44 milligrams for children between four and eight years). The upper limit is 10 milligrams per day for healthy adults. Since the body does not synthesize copper, this essential level of copper must come from nutrition.
Good sources of dietary copper are liver and other organ meats, oysters, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, and whole grains. Some copper is also present in potatoes, raisins, mushrooms, and chickpeas and other legumes. Drinking water supplied in copper pipes can contribute to copper intake.
Excessive dietary zinc can cause copper deficiency.
Can Copper Pose a Health Risk?
Just as some copper is essential for good health, too much can be harmful. A healthy human can excrete some excess copper. However, high doses, long-term exposure, and certain routes of exposure can overwhelm the biological processes that excrete excess copper from the body.
Inhalation of copper dust and fumes (from copper producing and processing facilities) can affect the respiratory tract causing coughing, sneezing, and pain in the chest. It also can adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract causing nausea and diarrhea. Liver and endocrine function may also be affected. Some studies have shown changes in blood including decreased hemoglobin and erythrocyte count after exposure to copper by inhalation. Copper dust and fumes can cause eye irritation, headaches and muscle aches.
Ingesting large amounts of copper compounds (such as copper sulfate) can cause death by nervous system, liver and kidney failure. Some studies have shown that ingesting copper may also be implicated in coronary heart disease and high blood pressure although other studies have shown that copper deficiency may play a role in coronary heart disease. High levels of copper in drinking water can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and has been reported in people drinking water from copper pipes.
Zinc and chelating agents can be used to remove excess copper from the body. My Comment: however, chewing an old anode not a recommended antidote
Copper is not known to play a role in cancer or birth defects."
I thought that copper dust is a respiratory irritant and that antifouling is also best not taken orally
However (according to this extract from http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/toxic-metals/more-metals/copper-faq.html)
"Copper is an essential nutrient for all living things. Copper is a component of more than 30 enzymes in the human body, including some involved in collagen synthesis. In humans copper is necessary for the healthy development of connective tissue, nerve coverings, and bone. It is also involved in both iron and energy metabolism. Copper deficiency, although rare, can cause anemia and connective tissue, bone, and nervous system abnormalities.
The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines, set in 2001 by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies Institute of Medicine, set both the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) and the upper intake levels for copper. The group's intake recommendation is 0.9 milligram of copper a day for adults, more for lactating women (1.3 milligrams) and less for children (0.34 milligrams for children up to three and 0.44 milligrams for children between four and eight years). The upper limit is 10 milligrams per day for healthy adults. Since the body does not synthesize copper, this essential level of copper must come from nutrition.
Good sources of dietary copper are liver and other organ meats, oysters, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, and whole grains. Some copper is also present in potatoes, raisins, mushrooms, and chickpeas and other legumes. Drinking water supplied in copper pipes can contribute to copper intake.
Excessive dietary zinc can cause copper deficiency.
Can Copper Pose a Health Risk?
Just as some copper is essential for good health, too much can be harmful. A healthy human can excrete some excess copper. However, high doses, long-term exposure, and certain routes of exposure can overwhelm the biological processes that excrete excess copper from the body.
Inhalation of copper dust and fumes (from copper producing and processing facilities) can affect the respiratory tract causing coughing, sneezing, and pain in the chest. It also can adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract causing nausea and diarrhea. Liver and endocrine function may also be affected. Some studies have shown changes in blood including decreased hemoglobin and erythrocyte count after exposure to copper by inhalation. Copper dust and fumes can cause eye irritation, headaches and muscle aches.
Ingesting large amounts of copper compounds (such as copper sulfate) can cause death by nervous system, liver and kidney failure. Some studies have shown that ingesting copper may also be implicated in coronary heart disease and high blood pressure although other studies have shown that copper deficiency may play a role in coronary heart disease. High levels of copper in drinking water can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and has been reported in people drinking water from copper pipes.
Zinc and chelating agents can be used to remove excess copper from the body. My Comment: however, chewing an old anode not a recommended antidote
Copper is not known to play a role in cancer or birth defects."
