To maintain the vital functions of the body, a person needs various nutrients that nature gives. Many scientists are of the opinion that due to the required amount of minerals, all diseases begin, as they take part in many processes, and the absence of one upsets the whole balance. And there are such chemical compounds in the earth's crust, oceans and seas. What is the effect of copper on the human body? Let's talk further.
The body needs copper, but in a certain amount
Copper is indispensable for maintaining health. She takes an active part in hematopoiesis, in a large number of various metabolic processes, forming part of the ingredients of many enzymes. Due to the presence of copper, other important elements are transported in the body - zinc and iron. Otherwise, they will simply accumulate, without any benefit.
Copper is also useful for the digestive system, helping those glands that are involved in food processing work. The pharmaceutical industry makes various preparations if it is necessary to fill the need for this element in inflammatory processes and a person’s tendency to joint diseases. But there is not only the positive effect of copper on human health.
Daily requirement limitation
However, the daily need for it is very limited. For adults, it is determined at 30 mcg / kg, for children, depending on age, from 60 to 40 mcg / kg. Only 75-150 mg of this metal can be contained in the body, of which almost half is concentrated in the liver and brain, the rest - in the bone skeleton, cartilage, connective and bone tissue, in the muscles.
Since copper is a metal with great electrical and heat-conducting properties, ductility, it is actively used in many production processes. It is in demand for the creation of wires and other conductors, power cables and water and gas pipes; it is contained in radiators and heat exchangers. It is indispensable in the chemical industry. It is used by jewelers as decorative alloys.
This metal is used in the manufacture of pipes so that it is possible to transport water for heating or cooling purposes. This metal has many useful characteristics, but its excessively permissible concentration, unfortunately, affects a person very detrimental. When contained in food or in water, the effect of copper on the human body is negative. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the quality of the products.
The harmful effects of copper on the human body
Not only in plants where copper is used extensively, poisoning can occur. In everyday life, a person can also be subject to this pathology. Metal can get inside in various ways:
- Directly in use.
- By inhalation of vapors, dust or aerosols containing particles of copper. A particular threat in this case is the grinding or polishing of copper products, foundry, periodic contact with metal due to professional activities, especially in galvanic areas, in textile, glass, paint and varnish production, etc.
- In case of violation of technological processes, when safety precautions are not observed during the period of work with copper and its compounds.
- If protective equipment is not observed during the treatment of plants with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.
- The use of copper utensils in everyday life or the storage of food in it.
- Frequent use of foods that are tinted with copper salts.
- Unknowingly mistakenly used fungicidal liquid. According to statistics, this often happens with young children.
- Ingestion of chemicals in which copper is the main ingredient.
What is the norm?
Cases are recorded when a person does this consciously with a suicidal purpose. Caught in the human body in a clear overabundance, copper immediately begins its destructive actions, causing numerous pathogenic conditions, destroying established biochemical processes. Doctors have determined the rate of copper, which for humans is considered dangerously toxic - it is 200-250 g per day. In this case, it can be considered that serious poisoning has occurred and prompt medical attention is needed. If you do not take measures, then an excess of this metal will have serious consequences, diseases will begin to develop:
The toxic properties of copper can adversely affect the brain, contribute to the appearance of allergic reactions, atherosclerosis, schizophrenia.
Poisoning and its symptoms
If the disease proceeds in an acute form, the symptoms depend on the way metal enters the body and on the dose. First of all, a poisoned organism responds to an overabundance as follows:
- An unusual, specific, sweetish aftertaste appears.
- The oral cavity is constantly dry.
- The mucous eye undergoes lacrimation, conjunctivitis may begin, the cornea acquires a golden hue.
- The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is also subject to pathological changes. Her irritation begins, burning and perspiration appear, a person begins to cough for a long time.
- The skin can acquire a greenish tint over time.
- The general condition deteriorates sharply due to the fact that weakness and dizziness appear, performance decreases significantly or completely disappears.
- Fever.
- Excessive sweating and chills occur.
- A person experiences strong pain.
- Vomiting appears. Moreover, vomit often acquire a blue-green color.
- It may be accompanied by diarrhea with blood streaks. If the disease proceeds in the most severe form, then this affects the work of many organs. For example, there is a great danger of developing renal failure or necrotic nephrosis, and these diseases are known to threaten a person’s life.
What happens to the body?
It is worth pointing out about the effect of copper on humans. The liver with a large amount of this substance in the body suffers primarily, as it is deposited in this organ, contributing to its significant increase. Against this background, hemolytic jaundice or anemia, cirrhosis can also occur.
The chronic form of the disease in everyday life arises due to the fact that a person often uses dishes or containers with a high copper content for eating or storing food. Summer residents and gardeners are poisoned if they use various drugs to improve productivity, containing a large percentage of copper. But this only happens if safety conditions are violated when working with drugs, and there are no protective measures.
Workers involved in agriculture often carry out procedures related to the elimination of fungal diseases on plants. For a good harvest, copper sulphate and copper oxychloride are used. To protect wood blanks, objects subject to spoilage and decay, special chemical preparations with a predominance of the percentage composition of copper with antiseptic properties are used at woodworking enterprises. They are so dangerous that if they are used incorrectly, death can occur from doses such as 8-25 g.
Symptoms of Chronic Poisoning
Chronic poisoning is characterized by its slow course. Symptoms in these cases are not so pronounced, and most often very weak. But gradually a number of pathologies accumulate in a person, causing irreversible processes. Eventually:
- there is constant weakness, fatigue occurs even after little physical effort;
- appetite disappears, the digestive system is disturbed;
- frequent dizziness appears;
- changes in blood pressure begin, most often the pressure is low;
- renal failure appears;
- yellowness is manifested not only of the skin, but also of the mucous membranes;
- on the periphery of the cornea of the eyes, the so-called Kaiser-Fleisher rings begin to appear green with a brown or yellow tint.
In this way, copper deposits can be further determined.
Effects
The results of such a long exposure to copper-containing drugs - a gradual destruction of tissues. This leads to the following grave consequences:
- Depressions, irritability and incontinence, inexplicable aggression, schizophrenia can develop more and more often.
- Often poisoning can trigger the development of Alzheimer's disease.
- Prerequisites for the development of diabetes are being formed.
- The digestive system is not able to cope with its functions. Against this background, various inflammatory diseases, constipation or loose stools appear.
- Atherosclerosis begins.
- Muscle and joint pain appear. Cramps, especially at night.
- Hepatic or renal failure.
Types of fever
The severity of symptoms entirely depends on the amount of metal that has entered the body and the method of its ingestion. Therefore, doctors share such lesions on:
- Copper Herb Fever. It begins to develop when inhalation of fine dust occurs. Several hours pass, but general weakness may begin within two days, there is no appetite, but vomiting and nausea are present, you constantly want to sleep. If you do not respond to these symptoms, severe chills begin, the temperature rises, often up to 40 ° C. In the throat, constant tickling, dryness, swallowing is difficult. Nosebleeds may occur, the abdomen is swollen, the pain is concentrated in the umbilical region.
- Foundry fever. It is caused by copper vapor. There is also general weakness and lack of appetite. Dry cough due to perspiration begins. Headache, muscle or joint pain.
Treatment
For poisoning caused by copper, medical attention is needed. But before the patient is required to be removed from the lesion.
It is necessary to properly wash the stomach, remove toxins from the intestines - they poison the body. It is necessary to give the patient a laxative, preferably saline. Fixing drugs should not be given - this can lead to even greater intoxication. Enema may also be needed. They also eliminate toxic substances. Rinse thoroughly.
If a chemical compound, especially concentrated, gets on the skin, a chemical burn can occur. In this case, it is desirable to wash the damaged surface with a stream of cool water for 10-20 minutes. When the doctor diagnosed copper poisoning, the victim must undergo a course of therapy for a speedy recovery. Enterosorbents are required. They help to bind and remove excess metal from the body.
In the acute form of poisoning, Unitiol is excellent. It is used as an antidote.
Infusion therapy
To improve the condition of the victim, infusion therapy will be useful. For this, a specific dose of injection is prescribed. The most effective are glucose, calcium gluconate. To cleanse the body faster, the patient needs to take diuretics.
Basic Rules
If copper vapors are guilty of poisoning, preparations for expectoration and bronchodilators are necessary for the effectiveness of treatment. To prevent copper poisoning, it must be remembered that:
- compliance with safety rules at work and at home will help to maintain health;
- follow instructions explaining the use of hazardous drugs;
- protective measures should be applied - special gloves, a mask, a respirator are used;
- Do not use copper utensils constantly.
If poisoning has occurred, you need to immediately begin treatment, help the body recover so that irreparable complications do not occur. Once you have figured out what effect copper has on the human body, it is worthwhile to carefully consider the amount of its consumption with different products.