The Health Benefits of Copper Sulfate

Benefits of Copper Sulfate

The largest health benefit of copper sulfate is that it is used to control bacteria and fungus growth on fruits, vegetables, and other crops, as it’s been registered for pesticide use in the United States since 1956. This includes mildew, which can cause leaf spots and plant spoilage, as copper sulfate binds to the proteins in fungus, damaging the cells and causing them to die.

When combined with lime and water (called a Bordeaux mixture) copper sulfate works as a protective fungicide and is used to protect plants during seed treatment before they grow.

In tropical climates, it’s used as a molluscicide, which is a snail bait that controls pests like snails and slugs from damaging plants and crops.

Copper sulfate is also used in order to help with public health and safety. It destroys algae and bacteria in swimming pools. In addition, it’s used to prevent athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that grows in between the toes in warm environments such as an indoor swimming pool. This is done by mixing it into the flooring mixtures of showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools to prevent the bacteria from being able to live on the flooring indefinitely.

Possible Side Effects

While copper is a trace element that occurs naturally in plants and animals, copper sulfate is not and can act as an irritant when someone is exposed to it. Crops and agriculture are cleaned after being treated with copper sulfate and there’s minimal risk of ingesting it from a treated crop as it primarily binds itself to soil sediments.

It is possible to be exposed to copper sulfate if you use it for farming or gardening purposes. If absorbed through the skin or eyes copper sulfate may cause a burning, stinging sensation. This could result in itching, eczema, conjunctivitis, inflammation, fluid buildup, or cornea irritation if exposed to the eyes.

Should copper sulfate be ingested, it’s only mildly toxic as it’s most often vomited up relatively quickly due to the extreme irritation it causes to the gastrointestinal tract. If someone consumes copper sulfate and does not vomit, they could be at risk of copper sulfate poisoning.

Signs of copper sulfate poisoning include:

• Burning sensations in the chest or abdomen
• A metallic taste in the mouth
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Diarrhea (which may have a blue or green color to it from the compound’s hue)
• Excessive sweating

Regardless of whether vomiting has occurred or not, anyone who consumes copper sulfate should go to the ER to rule poisoning out as well as make sure there’s been no damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, or intestinal lining of the stomach. Though extremely rare, if left untreated, high-dose exposure to copper sulfate in some situations can cause death.

Long-Term Side Effects

The EPA hasn’t issued a cancer rating for copper sulfate because there isn’t enough evidence that links copper sulfate to cancer development in humans who can regulate copper in their bodies. This is a normal function as copper enters the bloodstream and is mainly collected in the liver before being excreted through feces. More research is needed to determine if long-term exposure to copper sulfate can cause cancer in humans and animals.

If you have constant exposure to copper sulfate from agricultural use, you may have an increased risk of liver disease. However, that’s most likely if you have a preexisting condition called Wilson’s disease, a condition associated with excessive copper accumulation in the body.

Side Effects in Children

While more research is needed, it’s possible that children may be more sensitive to copper sulfate exposure than adults. Children are most likely to be exposed if they crawl on the ground near copper sulfate or put into their mouths objects that have been exposed to copper sulfate. Keep this in mind when using copper sulfate, and make sure children are nowhere near the area just to be safe.

Dosage and Preparation

In some areas, copper sulfate may be used to line drain or sewage pipes to prevent roots from growing in them and causing clogs. The United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a copper sulfate limit of 1 ppm in any drinking water, which is not a toxic amount to any individual.

When using copper sulfate for large areas of land or water, it’s important to follow the directions for the type of copper sulfate you are using. Different forms, like liquid and powder, will have different measurements depending on the area it’s being used for.

When handling copper sulfate, boots, gloves, and goggles should be worn at all times to minimize the risk of exposure or ingestion.