Copper rates, and carcass dressing percentages. Chronic copper toxicity does not normally occur in humans because of transport systems that regulate absorption and excretion. Autosomal recessive mutations in copper transport proteins can disable these systems, leading to Wilson's disease with copper accumulation and cirrhosis of the liver in persons who have inherited two defective genes. Elevated copper levels have also been linked to worsening symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. In the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has designated a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for copper dust and fumes in the workplace as a time-weighted average (TWA) of 1 mg/m.
Liver disease Liver disease Liver disease (also called hepatic disease) is a type of damage to or disease of the liver. There are more than a hundred different kinds of liver disease. Symptoms may include jaundice and weight loss. These are some of the most common: Liver disease can occur through several mechanisms. One general mechanism, increased DNA damage, is shared by some of the major causes of liver disease. These major causes include infection by hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus, alcohol abuse, and obesity.<ref name="urlChronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis | Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library"></ref> Viral infection by hepatitis B virus