Does the mining industry release copper into the environment?
Copper is a very abundant, naturally occurring element present in the earth’s crust. Most of the world’s copper is mined in the U.S. and copper is “released” into the environment during the mining process as these materials are removed from the earth, transported and processed. Copper is also released naturally by weathering and natural erosion processes. • How could I be exposed to copper? Copper is a natural element found in the earth’s crust. As a result, most of the world’s surface water and ground water used for drinking, contains copper. Naturally occurring copper in drinking water is safe to drink, even in instances where the copper level is high enough to add a metallic taste to the water. Copper is an essential nutrient required by the body in daily dietary amounts of 1 to 2 milligrams for adults (½ to 1 milligram for children). Too little copper in the body can actually lead to disease. Copper is involved in maintaining the balance of other useful metals in the body such as z
