Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
														Search
		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate





COPPER FUME								Related Pages
										*OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.*
**CAS:** 7440-50-8; **Chemical Formula:** Cu
The current OSHA limit for copper fume is 0.1 mg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA. Since OSHA adopted this limit in 1971, the ACGIH has increased the recommended TLV to 0.2 mg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA. The ACGIH’s previously recommended TLV of 0.1 mg/m3 was based on a personal communication (Whitman 1957 and 1962, as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 146) that reported that the taste perception of welders was altered when they were exposed to copper fume at levels ranging from 1 to 3 mg/m3 for short periods but that exposure to from 0.02 to 0.4 mg/m3 did not cause such complaints (ACGIH 1966/Ex. 1-13). At the time, the ACGIH judged the 0.1 mg/m3 TLV to be “sufficiently low to provide freedom from irritation from the fume by a reasonable margin” (ACGIH 1966/Ex. 1-13). NIOSH (Ex. 8-47, Table N1) concurs that OSHA’s 0.1 mg/m3 limit is appropriate. Copper is a reddish-colored metal.
In 1972, the ACGIH received a personal communication from a member of the U.K. Industrial Hygiene Unit, Her Majesty’s Factory Inspectorate (Luxon 1972, as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 146) reporting that employees exposed to copper fume at levels up to 0.4 mg/m3 during welding and copper metal refining operations experienced no ill effects from exposure. Based on this additional evidence, the ACGIH increased its TLV for copper fume to 0.2 mg/m3 in 1975.
Commenters to the docket urged OSHA to revise the PEL for copper fume to the ACGIH limit. BP America (Ex. 8-57; Tr. pp. 9-126 to 9-127) argued that the Agency should increase its PEL even though the only basis for doing so was a personal communication to the ACGIH TLV Committee. In response to these commenters, OSHA reiterates the position described in the introduction to this section (i.e., that the Agency must demonstrate that exposed workers will not be placed at increased risk even after the limit has been raised). Because the personal communication on which the ACGIH has based its increased limit cannot be examined to determine information of this type, OSHA cannot consider raising the limit at this time.
OSHA concludes that the evidence cited by the ACGIH (1986/Ex. 1-3) in support of the increase in its TLV-TWA for copper fume is not sufficient to support an increase in OSHA’s PEL for this substance. OSHA reasons that the ACGIH’s action was based largely on a personal communication, which makes it impossible for the Agency to evaluate the evidence appropriately.
										
							
								Page last reviewed:  September 28, 2011						Content source:  	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH
1988 OSHA PEL Project Documentation
Index of Chemical Names
Index of CAS Numbers Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue