Copper - 29Cu: biological information
Copper is essential for all life, but only in small quantities. It is the key component of redox enzymes and of haemocyanin.
Levels in humans
The abundances of the elements in humans.
- Human abundance by weight: 1000 ppb by weight
- Human abundance by atoms: 99 atoms relative to C = 1000000
How much copper is in your body? Find out here.
You can use this form to calculate how much copper your body contains. Enter your weight in either kilograms or pounds and click the "Calculate" button. You must enter a number, not text! Elements for which there are no data will always give a value of zero for the weight, no matter what you put in the weight box.
Hazards and Risks
Hazards and risks associated with copper:
Copper metal powder is a fire hazard. Unless known otherwise, all copper compounds should be regarded as toxic. Pollution from industrial smoke is a problem. As little as 30 g of copper sulphate (CuSO4) has proved fatal when eaten.
References
- J.E. Huheey, E.A. Keiter, and R.L. Keiter in Inorganic Chemistry : Principles of Structure and Reactivity, 4th edition, HarperCollins, New York, USA, 1993.
- S. Budavari (Ed.) in The Merck Index, 11th ed., Merck, USA, 1989.
- N.N. Greenwood and A. Earnshaw in Chemistry of the Elements, 2nd edition, Butterworth, UK, 1997.