Will Overdosing on Copper Make You More Susceptible to Predation?
Author:
Tasha Eichenseher
Date Published:
7/2012
Description:
Fish, just like humans, require some copper. For us, a daily dose of 1.5 to three milligrams per day should be enough to help you avoid copper deficiency, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The naturally occurring metal helps your body make red blood cells and collagen and maintain nerve cells and your immune system, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Oysters, shellfish, liver, whole grains, dark leafy vegetables, nuts, and chocolate are all good sources.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has regulated copper levels in drinking water since 1974, warns that exposure to more than 1,300 parts per billion of copper can result in gastrointestinal distress, and liver or kidney damage. Most human exposure to copper comes from corroded pipes and plumbing fixtures.
Non-aquatic species, including humans, can also experience disruptions in chemosensory function, including smell, when they inhale too much copper, said WSU’s McIntyre. But it is much less likely that they’d be exposed to neurotoxic concentrations. “This has been studied in rodents and observed (rarely) in metal smelter workers,” she said. “Fish and invertebrates are more vulnerable because if it is in the water, they are exposed.”
McIntyre adds: “Fish have many of the same physiological requirements as humans, hence the use of models such as zebrafish in medical research.”
Fish food generally contains in the range of one to five milligrams of copper per kilogram of dry food.
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