Coptrol Environmental Safety

Humans|human body|adult

The three components of Coptrol are specifically exempted from
the schedules of the *NHMRC Uniform Poisons Standard.*National

Health and Medicine Research Council of Australia. Copper is a normal

component of the human body. The total copper content of an average

adult ranges from 100‑150 mg and a daily intake of about 2 mg is

required.

Toxicology|acute|inhalation

Acute ‑ Oral ingestion of relatively small doses of copper acetate or copper sulphate produces acute toxicity in humans, resulting in inflammation of the gastro‑intestinal tract, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Browning in 1969 reported that in adult humans 65 to 130 mg of copper sulphate orally ingested are dangerous. Levels from 650 mg to 1,000 mg are highly toxic and possibly lethal.

Chronic ‑ Browning (1969) stated, " It is debatable whether chronic copper poisoning, industrial or non-industrial, exists in human beings".

Inhalation ‑ The evidence in relation to inhalation toxicity suggests that people regularly subjected to copper "dust" may suffer a non‑specific reaction to the inhaled dust as a foreign body in the lungs.

Coptrol, diluted 1:10 as indicated on the label, will result in a spray containing 10.7 g of copper per litre. For this reason, the use of a face shield is recommended when handling.

Dermal|dermatitis

Browning (1969) also noted that copper is not widely
recognised as a frequent industrial cause of dermatitis. Coptrol
is mildly alkaline with a pH of about 9.6 and it can be readily
removed from the skin by washing liberally with water.
Nevertheless, the Coptrol label recommends the use of rubber
gloves during handling.