It is found naturally in a wide variety of mineral salts and organic compounds, as well as in metallic form. Copper is widely used in cooking utensils and water distribution systems, as well as in fertilizers, herbicides, and paint. It is also used in animal feed additives for growth promotion and disease control. Anthropogenic emissions include smelters, power stations and waste incinerators. The major release of copper to land is from copper mine tailings, sewage sludge and agricultural applications.
Copper is vital to life in small amounts, but toxic at high doses.
In humans, ingestion of gram quantities of copper salts may cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood or protein in the urine, hypertension, convulsions, coma, and even death. Evidence also indicates that copper compounds are spermicidal. The disposal of wastes containing copper is regulated by the Basel Convention. The cyanide ion is usually found joined with other elements such as hydrogen, sodium or potassium. These cyanide compounds are used in electroplating, metallurgy, production of chemicals, photographic development, plastic production, and fumigation sprays.