Copper Fume, Dust & Mist, and Occupational Health Issues (2025)

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Exposure to copper fume, dust, and mist, with an emphasis on recommending a health-based occupational exposure guidance value. The current Safe Work Australia (SWA) workplace exposure standards (WES) and proposed workplace exposure limits (WEL), as well as current international occupational exposure limits (OELs) are discussed, and the possible health effects examined.

Description

Key messages:

The AIOH is not a standard setting body. Through its Position Papers, the AIOH seeks to provide relevant information on substances of interest where there is uncertainty about existing Australian exposure standards/limits. This is done primarily through a review of the existing published, peer-reviewed scientific literature but may include anecdotal evidence based on the practical experience of certified AIOH members. The Position Papers attempt to recommend a health-based guidance exposure value that can be measured; that is, it is technically feasible to assess workplace exposures against the derived exposure value. It does not consider economic or engineering feasibility. As far as reasonably possible, the AIOH formulates a recommendation on the level of exposure that the typical worker can experience without significant risk of adverse health effects.

Any recommended guidance exposure value should not be viewed as a fine line between safe and unsafe exposures. They also do not represent quantitative estimates of risk at different exposure levels or by different routes of exposure. Any recommended exposure value should be used as a guideline by professionals trained in the practice of occupational hygiene to assist in the control of health hazards.