General Description
Copper is one of the most widely used metals in the world. Modern industries, the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and the high copper animal additives are accompanied by increasingly serious environmental pollution. Copper is widely distributed in nature and plays an important role in animals, plants and human life. However, high concentrations of copper have negative effects on aquatic organisms and ecosystems, such as inhibiting the self-purification ability of rivers, and destroying the ecological balance system of water bodies. When the copper content in the water reaches 0.01 mg/L, it has a significant inhibitory effect on the self-purification of the water; more than 3 mg/L will produce an odor; if it exceeds 15 mg/L, it will not be drinkable, and aquatic organisms cannot survive. If excessive copper is enriched in the body, poisoning phenomena such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, acute hemolysis, and renal tubular deformation may occur. In severe cases, it may also cause acute kidney failure and other hazards. WHO has established a guideline of 2.0 mg/L of copper ions for maximum contaminant levle. And USEPA has set the action level of 1.3 mg/L for maximum contaminant levle in water.