When most people think of copper, they picture the shiny metal used to make pennies. But copper is also an essential nutrient that affects your health.
Copper is used in many different ways throughout your body. It improves your skin, nails, and hair and also helps your essential organs function. It even helps babies grow during pregnancy.
Copper makes up a portion of most proteins in your body. It’s essential for keeping your body healthy and working properly. But too much can be a problem.
What to Know About Copper Toxicity
Copper is an essential trace mineral. This means you only need very small amounts of it. Copper is normally bound to proteins in your body, which is healthy. Sometimes, copper doesn’t bind to your proteins and is known as unbound, or free copper. In this case, it can be unhealthy and even toxic.
Inherited toxicity. Copper toxicity can be something that’s acquired or inherited. When it’s inherited, it’s known as Wilson’s disease.
Acquired toxicity. Acquired copper toxicity can come from a few different sources. It can come from eating copper salts (copper sulfate). These blue-colored salts can build up on unused cooking or food storage items, such as pots and pans, or inside water pipes. If copper salts form in water pipes, they can make the water unsafe to drink.
It’s possible to get copper toxicity from eating too much copper-rich food or dietary supplements. You can also ingest copper by drinking an acidic beverage or eating food that’s been stored in a copper container for a long period.
Fatal when severe. Too much copper can be fatal. You could get severe toxicity from absorbing large amounts of copper salts through your skin. Copper can work its way through your internal organs and build up in your brain, liver, and lungs.
What Are the Symptoms of Copper Toxicity?
People who have copper toxicity can become very sick. Nausea and vomiting are the two primary symptoms of it. Others to watch out for are:
- Diarrhea (may have a bluish color or contain blood)
- Fever and bodily chills
- Muscular convulsion or weakness
- Pain or burning sensation in your abdominal area
- Yellowing of your eyes and skin (jaundice)
- Anemia
- Metallic taste in your mouth
- Lack of urine due to kidney malfunction
How Copper Affects Your Health
Your body needs copper to carry out essential functions. Copper helps your body produce energy, supports healthy blood vessels, and boosts your immune system. Copper also helps with brain development and supports your nervous system.
It’s rare to develop a copper deficiency in the U.S. Some people are more likely to become copper deficient than others. Certain groups of vulnerable people include:
- People who take zinc supplements, which can block the body’s absorption of copper
- People with celiac disease
- People who have Menkes disease, which prevents the body from processing copper correctly
A deficiency of copper can affect your health. The following signs in your body can signal a copper deficiency:
- Pale, light patches of skin
- Constant tiredness or fatigue
- Weak bones
- High cholesterol
- Problems with your connective tissue
- Poor balance and coordination
- Higher risk of infection due to a weakened immune system
But it’s also possible to get too much copper. If you’re getting too much copper in your food or from cooking in uncoated copper cookware or drinking from unlined copper cups for a long period, you’re at risk for copper toxicity. If left untreated, copper toxicity can cause liver failure or Wilson’s disease, a condition that can affect your liver, nervous system, and mental health.
How Much Copper Do You Need?
The amount of copper you require depends on your age. Babies and young children need less of this vital nutrient than adults. The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends the following amounts of daily copper intake, listed in micrograms (mcg):
- Infants aged 0 to 12 months: 200 mcg per day
- Children aged 1 to 3 years: 340 mcg per day
- Children aged 4 to 8: 440 mcg per day
- Children aged 9 to 13: 700 mcg per day
- Teenagers aged 14 to 19: 890 mcg per day
- Adults over the age of 19: 900 mcg per day
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to slightly increase their copper intake by 100 to 400 mcg per day.
You usually get enough copper from the foods you eat. Some foods that contain copper are:
- Shellfish
- Beef liver
- Whole grains and whole-grain products
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocados
- Chickpeas
- Tofu
- Potatoes
- Mushrooms
How Copper Toxicity Is Treated
Copper toxicity is diagnosed through testing. There are different tests your doctor might recommend depending on your case. Tests for copper toxicity include:
- Total copper blood test, also known as a total copper serum test
- Urine test
- A liver biopsy to measure copper levels
- Blood ceruloplasmin test
- Vitamin B12 level test
Once you are diagnosed with copper toxicity, there are several treatment options available.
Stomach pumping (gastric lavage). A tube is inserted into your stomach through your mouth to remove copper from your stomach.
Medications. Dimercaprol or penicillamine are some medications that can be prescribed by a doctor for copper toxicity. They are taken orally.
Chelation. This treatment involves a medicine that can be injected into your bloodstream. It binds to excess copper, making it easier for your body to flush it through urine.
Hemodialysis. This is a blood filtration treatment. It draws blood from you and cleans it to remove the toxic copper. The clean blood is then introduced back into your body.
Takeaways
Copper is an essential trace element that your body needs, but too much can be a problem. You may get too much copper from certain foods, but it can also happen if you drink from a copper container for a long time. The most common symptoms of copper toxicity include nausea and vomiting, but it can also cause diarrhea, yellowing of your skin, and a metallic taste in your mouth. If you’re noticing those symptoms, contact your doctor right away.
Copper Toxicity FAQs
How much copper is toxic to humans?
Eating around 1 gram of copper is toxic to humans.
Can copper cause liver damage?
Yes, too much copper can cause liver damage, often in the form of Wilson’s disease.
What diseases can too much copper cause?
If too much copper builds up in your body, you may develop Wilson’s disease, which can cause damage to your brain and liver. Breathing in copper dust or fumes can cause metal fume fever.
