تسجيل الدخول

تسجيل

copper

المؤلف:  Sue Jickells , Adam Negrusz (Editors)

المصدر:  Clarkes Analytical Forensic Toxicology

الجزء والصفحة:  p105-106

2026-09-22

35

Copper

Copper is an essential trace element with a recommended intake of 2.5–3.0 mg per day in adults (Piscator 1979; Aggett 1999). Wilson’s disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) is a genetically inherited disorder of copper metabolism in which there is an inability to transport and excrete copper from the liver into bile (Aggett 1999). This leads to ‘copper overload’ and associated liver and neurological damage that can cause death unless treated early. There is some evidence that excess environmental expo sure to copper in drinking water or diet (from copper cooking pots) may lead to copper-related liver disease in babies and young children (e.g. Indian childhood cirrhosis; Sethi et al. 1993; Von Mühlendahl and Lange 1994; Müller et al. 1996). Copper toxicity has also been found in patients who undergo dialysis with defective copper containing dialysis membranes (O’Donohue et al. 1993). Occupational exposure to copper compounds is relatively rare. The main risk is associated with copper fumes in smelting furnaces, which lead to respiratory illness and metal-fume fever. Copper-related liver and respiratory disease has also been reported in vineyard workers who spray copper-containing fungicides (Bordeaux mixture). Acute copper poisoning may sometimes be seen in cases of accidental and suicidal ingestion of copper salts and solutions, particularly water-soluble salts, such as the sulfate, chloride or acetate. The signs and symptoms of acute (oral) copper poisoning are metallic taste, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal bleeding. In severe cases this can lead to hypotension, shock, cardiac failure and death (Walsh et al. 1977; Gulliver 1991). The reference range for plasma copper is wide and depends on age, pregnancy and any under lying disease state. In healthy adults the reference range is 0.7–1.6 mg/L. The urinary excretion of in healthy adults is <50 μg/day. Significantly raised values are associated with patients with hepatobiliary disease (50–100 μg/day) or Wilson’s disease (>100 μg/day).