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Copper

RTECS #
GL5325000
CAS #
7440-50-8; 72514-83-1
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Updated
March 2019
Molecular Weight
63.54
Molecular Formula
Cu
Synonyms
1721 Gold
Allbri natural copper
ANAC 110
Arwood copper
Bronze powder
C.I. 77400
C.I. Pigment Metal 2
CDA 101
CDA 102
CDA 110
CDA 122
Copper (ACGIH:OSHA)
Copper (metallic)
Copper bronze
Copper slag-airborne
Copper slag-milled
Copper-airborne
Copper-milled
Gold bronze
Kafar copper
M 1
M 3
M 4
M1 (Copper)
M2 (Copper)
M3 (Copper)
M3R
M3S
M4 (Copper)
OFHC Cu
Raney copper

Reproductive Effects Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
intrauterine/rat 250 µg/kg (1D prior to copulation)Reproductive: Maternal effects: Uterus, cervix, vagina

Reproductive: Effects on fertility: Female fertility index (e.g., # females pregnant per # sperm positive females; # females pregnant per # females mated)
IJEBA6 19,1124,1981
oral/rat 152 mg/kg (22W prior to copulation)Reproductive: Effects on embryo or fetus: Fetotoxicity (except death, e.g., stunted fetus)

Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Central nervous system
GISAAA 45(3),8,1980
oral/rat 1520 µg/kg (22W prior to copulation)Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Musculoskeletal systemGISAAA 45(3),8,1980
oral/rat 1210 µg/kg (35W prior to copulation)Reproductive: Effects on fertility: Pre- implantation mortality (e.g., reduction in number of implants per female; total number of implants per corpora lutea)

Reproductive: Effects on fertility: Post- implantation mortality (e.g., dead and/or resorbed implants per total number of implants)
GISAAA 42(8),30,1977

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
intrapleural/rat lowest published toxic dose: 100 mg/kgTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosis, focal (pneumoconiosis)

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors
AIHAAP 41,836,1980
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 10.080 mg/kg/12W- continuousTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes
CALEDQ 159,57,2000

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
intraperitoneal/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): 0.07 mg/kgVCVN1* -,67,1998
multiple/non-mammalian species lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 238 mg/m3/24HTXAPA9 197,177,2004
oral/human lowest published toxic dose: 0.01 mg/kgGastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea

Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting
TOXID9 72,29,2003
oral/human lowest published toxic dose: 120 µg/kgGastrointestinal: Nausea or vomitingPHRPA6 73,910,1958
oral/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): 413 mg/kgTOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): >5000 mg/kgBehavioral: Food intake (animal)

Gastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea

Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting
TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 108 mg/kgBehavioral: Tremor

Gastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea

Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting
TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 1080 mg/kgKidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changesTOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 158 mg/kgKidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in tubules (including acute renal failure, acute tubular necrosis)TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 232 mg/kgKidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes primarily in glomeruli

Blood: Changes in spleen

Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)
TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 341 mg/kgLiver: Other changesTOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 501 mg/kgEndocrine: Changes in spleen weightTOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 736 mg/kgBiochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: PhosphatasesTOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 3406 mg/kgBlood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)TOLED5 163,109,2006
subcutaneous/rabbit lowest published lethal dose: 375 mg/kgLiver: Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), zonal

Liver: Other changes

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes
AJPAA4 1,117,1925
Tank with water/Trout lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 9.2 µg/l/96HAQUTO* 177,51,2016

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
intravenous/rabbit lowest published toxic dose: 75 mg/kg/2D- intermittentLiver: Other changes

Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field
AJPAA4 1,117,1925
oral/rabbit lowest published toxic dose: 3 gm/kg/60D- continuousCardiac: Other changes

Liver: Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), zonal

Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field
AJPAA4 1,117,1925

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (fume)DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 1 mg/m3 (dust, mist)DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTRBMAV 33,85,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWQURBAW 7,75,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWJAVMA4 164,277,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWIJMDAI 10,416,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWKOTTAM 11,1300,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWFOREAE 7,313,1942
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMIBUBI 9,321,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWPEXTAR 12,102,1969
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW85DHAX Cu,41,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWAMTODM 3,209,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOLED5 127,55,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCREOH* 42,93,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMAERE* 51,247,2001
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 567,109,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTPHSDY 23,426,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCRTXB2 33,215,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCBCPAI 132,269,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 613,103,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 19,251,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 613,76,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWENTOX* -,665,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWJJATDK 26,191,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTOPADD 32(Suppl. 2),71,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 533,183,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWREPTED 23,260,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWHBTME* ,529,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 658,68,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 566,249,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWHTOPA* 1,595,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,3,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,36,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,31,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 674,73,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 667,82,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 23,241,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCEXPB9 36,88,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNEUCL* 23,485,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNBREV* 5,1,1981
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 690,71,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 26,205,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNRTXDN 33,178,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWREPTED 34,298,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWEMMUEG 55,278,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWNETEEC 33,608,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUTAEX 30,89,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWFCTOD7 86,298,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 770,140,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 770,170,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWREPTED 73,105,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCCRIF* ,209,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWVETOX* ,425,2018

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1988 PESTICIDE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATIONFEREAC 54,7740,1989
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1998 STATUS OF PESTICIDESSupportedRBREV* -,305,1998
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3 (fume,dusts & mists)DTLVS* 3,59,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypttime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3 (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3 (dust and mist), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3 (dust, aerosol), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3, resp. dust, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCEVME 1 mg/m3 (dust), 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANYMAK 0.1 mg/m3, inhal, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYtime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3 (fume), short term exposure limit 0.4 mg/m3 (fume), SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYtime-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m3, short term exposure limit 4 mg(Cu)/m3, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 4 mg/m3, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 0.1 mg(Cu)/m3 (resp. dust), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-INDIAtime-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPANs2 sen, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3 (fume), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3 (dust and mist), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3 (dust and mist), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 0.05 mg(Co)/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3, fume, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLANDMAC(time-weighted average) fume 0.1 mg/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) fume 0.3 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLANDMAC(time-weighted average) dust 1 mg/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) dust 2 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIAtime-weighted average 0.5 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 1 mg/m3, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3;time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (resp. dust), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 0.1 mg/m3, KZG-week 0.2 mg/m3, inhal, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILANDtime-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3 (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILANDtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDSMAC-TGG 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDSMAC-TGG 1 mg/m3 (dust), 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINEStime-weighted average 1.0 mg/m3 (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 0.2 mg/m3 (fume), OCT2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 1 mg/m3;short term exposure limit 2 mg/m3 (dusts and mists), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Cu)/m3, fumeCFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m3, dusts and mistsCFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3, fumeCFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 1 mg/m3, dusts and mistsCFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Cu)/m3, fumeCFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m3, dusts and mistsCFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Cu)/m3, fumeCFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m3, dusts and mistsCFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO COPPER, dusts and mists-air10H time-weighted average 1 mg/m3NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO COPPER, fume-air10H time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m3NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code X5915; Number of Industries 5; Total Number of Facilities 162; Number of Occupations 5; Total Number of Employees Exposed 11889; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 421
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code X5983; Number of Industries 51; Total Number of Facilities 4558; Number of Occupations 45; Total Number of Employees Exposed 53282; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 8758
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code X6807; Number of Industries 2; Total Number of Facilities 16; Number of Occupations 2; Total Number of Employees Exposed 625
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code X8588; Number of Industries 3; Total Number of Facilities 204; Number of Occupations 7; Total Number of Employees Exposed 9443
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 20115; Number of Industries 296; Total Number of Facilities 59839; Number of Occupations 158; Total Number of Employees Exposed 920449; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 72821
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code M2276; Number of Industries 27; Total Number of Facilities 1213; Number of Occupations 35; Total Number of Employees Exposed 24737
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 20115; Number of Industries 176; Total Number of Facilities 12177; Number of Occupations 105; Total Number of Employees Exposed 224406

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/91/180513/AS)
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Copper (dust and fume), 7029
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements by ICP, 7300
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements in blood or tissue, 8005
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Metals in urine, 8310
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID121
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID206
Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018