Copper
high intakes of copper can cause liver and kidney damage and even death.
1.6 How can copper affect children?
This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from conception to maturity
at 18 years of age. Exposure to high levels of copper will result in the same types of effects in children and adults. We
do not know if these effects would occur at the same dose level in children and adults. Studies in animals suggest that
children may have more severe effects than adults; we do not know if this would also be true in humans. There is a very
small percentage of infants and children who are unusually sensitive to copper. We do not know if copper can cause
birth defects or other developmental effects in humans. Studies in animals suggest that ingestion of high levels of
copper may cause a decrease in fetal growth.
1.5 How can copper affect my health?
Long-term exposure to copper dust can irritate your nose, mouth, and eyes, and cause headaches, dizziness, nausea,
and diarrhea. If you drink water that contains higher than normal levels of copper, you may experience nausea,
vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea. Intentionally high intakes of copper can cause liver and kidney damage and
even death. We do not know if copper can cause cancer in humans. EPA does not classify copper as a human
carcinogen because there are no adequate human or animal cancer studies.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs132.html