An effect of copper toxicity in relevance to public health

Summary of article contents:

Copper is an essential trace mineral that is vitally important for physical and mental health. Generally, copper is not poisonous in its metallic state but some of its salts are powerful inhibitors of endogenous enzymes present in our body. The poisonous compound of copper is CuSO 4, copper carbonate, and copper subacetate. The incidence of copper toxicity is very common nowadays. Inhalation, consumption of food and water, and dermal contact with air, water, and soil that contains copper were some exposures medium for copper toxicity. After consumption, copper first starts depositing in the liver thereby disabling the liver to detoxify elevated copper levels in the body thus adversely affecting the nervous system, reproductive system, adrenal function, connective tissue, learning ability in newborn babies, etc. If a large amount is taken at once, it will cause severe vomiting, and abdominal pain, and purging afterward produces headache, and in fatal cases, convulsions or paralysis may occur, which result in death. Chronic poisoning may develop through ingesting small amounts of copper daily, as in cooked or pickled articles, for a length of time. This review article provides an overview of copper toxicity: acute and chronic poisoning, general symptoms, mode of administration, medicolegal and forensic aspects, possible detection methods, and treatment, etc Keywords: Copper poisoning, Heavy metal toxicity, Chronic poisoning, Copper sulphate, Medicolegal aspects