Copper

RTECS #

GL5325000

CAS #

7440-50-8; 72514-83-1
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

March 2019

Molecular Weight

63.54

Molecular Formula

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/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
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 system	GISAAA 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/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
intrapleural/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 100 mg/kg	Tumorigenic: 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- continuous	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	CALEDQ 159,57,2000

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
intraperitoneal/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 0.07 mg/kg		VCVN1* -,67,1998
multiple/non-mammalian species	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 238 mg/m³/24H		TXAPA9 197,177,2004
oral/human	lowest published toxic dose: 0.01 mg/kg	Gastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting	TOXID9 72,29,2003
oral/human	lowest published toxic dose: 120 µg/kg	Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting	PHRPA6 73,910,1958
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 413 mg/kg		TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): >5000 mg/kg	Behavioral: Food intake (animal) Gastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting	TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 108 mg/kg	Behavioral: Tremor Gastrointestinal: Hypermotility, diarrhea Gastrointestinal: Nausea or vomiting	TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 1080 mg/kg	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes	TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 158 mg/kg	Kidney, 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/kg	Kidney, 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/kg	Liver: Other changes	TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 501 mg/kg	Endocrine: Changes in spleen weight	TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 736 mg/kg	Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Phosphatases	TOLED5 163,109,2006
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 3406 mg/kg	Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)	TOLED5 163,109,2006
subcutaneous/rabbit	lowest published lethal dose: 375 mg/kg	Liver: 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/96H		AQUTO* 177,51,2016

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
intravenous/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 75 mg/kg/2D- intermittent	Liver: 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- continuous	Cardiac: Other changes Liver: Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), zonal Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	AJPAA4 1,117,1925

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
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 REVIEW		TRBMAV 33,85,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		QURBAW 7,75,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		JAVMA4 164,277,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		IJMDAI 10,416,1974
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		KOTTAM 11,1300,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FOREAE 7,313,1942
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MIBUBI 9,321,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		PEXTAR 12,102,1969
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		85DHAX Cu,41,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AMTODM 3,209,1977
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 127,55,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CREOH* 42,93,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MAERE* 51,247,2001
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 567,109,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TPHSDY 23,426,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CRTXB2 33,215,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CBCPAI 132,269,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 613,103,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 19,251,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 613,76,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,665,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		JJATDK 26,191,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOPADD 32(Suppl. 2),71,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 533,183,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 23,260,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HBTME* ,529,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 658,68,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 566,249,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HTOPA* 1,595,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,3,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,36,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,31,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 674,73,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 667,82,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 23,241,2008
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CEXPB9 36,88,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NEUCL* 23,485,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NBREV* 5,1,1981
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 690,71,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 26,205,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NRTXDN 33,178,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 34,298,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		EMMUEG 55,278,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NETEEC 33,608,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 30,89,2014
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FCTOD7 86,298,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 770,140,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 770,170,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 73,105,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CCRIF* ,209,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		VETOX* ,425,2018

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1988 PESTICIDE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATION		FEREAC 54,7740,1989
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1998 STATUS OF PESTICIDES	Supported	RBREV* -,305,1998
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-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 Egypt	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³ (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³ (dust and mist), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³ (dust, aerosol), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, resp. dust, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 1 mg/m³ (dust), 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 0.1 mg/m³, inhal, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³ (fume), short term exposure limit 0.4 mg/m³ (fume), SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m³, short term exposure limit 4 mg(Cu)/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 4 mg/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Cu)/m³ (resp. dust), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-INDIA	time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	s2 sen, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³ (fume), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³ (dust and mist), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³ (dust and mist), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 0.05 mg(Co)/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, fume, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) fume 0.1 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) fume 0.3 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) dust 1 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) dust 2 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	time-weighted average 0.5 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 1 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³;time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (resp. dust), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 0.1 mg/m³, KZG-week 0.2 mg/m³, inhal, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILAND	time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³ (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILAND	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 1 mg/m³ (dust), 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 1.0 mg/m³ (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (fume), OCT2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-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, fume	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m³, dusts and mists	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³, fume	CFRGBR 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 mists	CFRGBR 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, fume	CFRGBR 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 mists	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 0.1 mg(Cu)/m³, fume	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 1 mg(Cu)/m³, dusts and mists	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO COPPER, dusts and mists-air	10H time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO COPPER, fume-air	10H time-weighted average 0.1 mg/m³	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard 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 1983	Hazard 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 1983	Hazard 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 1983	Hazard 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 1983	Hazard 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 1974	Hazard 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 1974	Hazard 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

Organization	Reference
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

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health