Copper and the human body
- Copper is an essential trace element for living organisms.
- The body of an adult contains between 50 and 120 mg of copper.
- The human body has a homeostatic system that regulates the level of copper.
- The human body absorbs copper when missing and removes any excess.
- There are two serious congenital diseases associated with copper: Wilson’s disease and Menkes diesease.
- Wilson's disease is due to accumulation of copper in the liver and brain.
- Menkes disease is due to the lack of copper absorption in the intestinal tract.
- The metabolism of an adult requires between 0.9 and 1.5 mg of copper daily.
- Cereals, nuts, legumes, fruit, liver, seafood ... and chocolate are copper.
- Copper has a biochemical activity associated with cuproproteins.
- Some cuproproteins are enzymes.
- Ceruloplasmin is the main cuproprotein and is an enzyme.
- It carries copper in the blood plasma of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
- Copper is a catalyst for the formation of hemoglobin in humans.
- Plastocyanin is a cuproprotein that catalyses plant photosynthesis.
- Haemocyanin is a cuproprotein that carries oxygen in the bluish blood of spiders, lobster, snails, squid, etc.
- There is no known specific occupational disease in the copper industry.