Health hazard from occupational exposure to metallic copper and silver dust

Abstract

This review of the toxicity and occupational hazard from exposure to metallic copper and silver dust was undertaken to examine the bases for the current standards and to suggest an alternative approach to controlling potential occupational hazard in conditions where exposures are limited to the prime metals. There are no data to suggest that exposure to silver or copper metal dust has produced remarkable disease in man. Further, there is no reason to consider the dust from either of these metals to be anything but nuisance particulate as defined by the ACGIH. They should, therefore, be regulated as such at the recommended level of 10 mg/m3.