4 ms·
I'm surprised hemocyanin isn't poisonous to us, or at least bad. Ingesting copper just doesn't sound healthy. AFAIC it isn't something we usually do either, so
by _a_a_a_ 3y ago
I'm surprised hemocyanin isn't poisonous to us, or at least bad. Ingesting copper just doesn't sound healthy. AFAIC it isn't something we usually do either, so no pressure to evolve a way to metabolise it either.
- dekhn 3y agoWe eat about 1mg of copper a day. It's an essential trace mineral. You can consume 10mg safely per day.
- _a_a_a_ 3y agoHuh. Didn't know. Thanks!
- dredmorbius 3y agoThe term "essential minerals" refers to minerals (elemental rather than organic chemical compounds) required for life. For humans, those include five major minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and an additional nine "trace elements": iron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, and selenium. (From Wikipedia: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_(nutrient) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_(nutrient)>) Dose is critical. Whilst too little causes deficiency syndromes, too much of these compounds may also be harmful. Note that even excessive water consumption can be deadly.