Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
【United Evening News】Reporter Liu Kaiyuan/Taipei Report
March 21, 2012, 5:49 PM
"This is a typical case of using legal means to cover up illegal activities," said Shen Shih-hung, Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). The illegal activities involving Taoyuan's Chang Hsin Company and its affiliates represent the largest composite crime model uncovered by the EPA in recent years, requiring in-depth investigation by prosecutors, police, and the EPA.
### Three Grades of Copper Sulfate
Copper sulfate, a heavy metal, is categorized into three grades: industrial, feed, and agricultural. Feed-grade copper sulfate, derived from natural copper ore or electrolytic pure copper, is added to animal feed for livestock such as pigs, chickens, and ducks as a nutritional supplement.
Waste copper sulfate solution from printed circuit board etching in electronics factories is recycled and reused, primarily in dyes, printing inks, and batteries. Agricultural-grade copper sulfate is produced by adding lime to feed-grade copper sulfate and is commonly used in pesticides.
### Adding Industrial-Grade Copper Sulfate to Feed is Wrong
Adding copper sulfate to livestock feed, such as for pigs and chickens, generally serves to regulate microbial levels in the intestines, reducing the occurrence of intestinal diseases and harmful toxins. Pig farmers even believe that feed supplemented with copper sulfate results in black feces, indicating good digestion. However, experts argue that there are pros and cons to adding copper sulfate to feed.
Shen Shih-hung stated, "Adding industrial-grade copper sulfate to feed is simply wrong." Industrial-grade copper sulfate is refined but lacks sufficient purity, leaving residues of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium in the feed. According to literature, animals cannot metabolize these substances, leading to damage to hematopoietic and nervous functions. If humans consume such contaminated pork or poultry, the consequences would be unimaginable.
### News Glossary: Copper Sulfate
Copper sulfate, chemical formula CuSO₄, is a white powder that may appear pale gray-green due to impurities. It is a soluble copper salt. The most common form of copper sulfate is its crystalline state, copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate ([Cu(H₂O)₄]SO₄·H₂O), a blue solid. Its aqueous solution appears blue due to hydrated copper ions, making anhydrous copper sulfate a common reagent in laboratories to test for the presence of water.
In industrial and agricultural applications, copper sulfate is used for refining copper and, when mixed with slaked lime, forms the pesticide Bordeaux mixture. As a heavy metal salt, copper sulfate is toxic, with a lethal dose of 0.9 g/kg for adults. In case of accidental ingestion, immediate consumption of protein-rich foods such as milk or egg whites, or the use of EDTA calcium sodium salt as an antidote, is recommended. (Source: Wikipedia)
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ NATIONAL/ NATS6/ 6976360. shtml#ixzz1pktXKi2J
Legal Cover for Illegal: Industrial Copper Sulfate Ingested
March 21, 2012, 5:49 PM
"This is a typical case of using legal means to cover up illegal activities," said Shen Shih-hung, Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). The illegal activities involving Taoyuan's Chang Hsin Company and its affiliates represent the largest composite crime model uncovered by the EPA in recent years, requiring in-depth investigation by prosecutors, police, and the EPA.
### Three Grades of Copper Sulfate
Copper sulfate, a heavy metal, is categorized into three grades: industrial, feed, and agricultural. Feed-grade copper sulfate, derived from natural copper ore or electrolytic pure copper, is added to animal feed for livestock such as pigs, chickens, and ducks as a nutritional supplement.
Waste copper sulfate solution from printed circuit board etching in electronics factories is recycled and reused, primarily in dyes, printing inks, and batteries. Agricultural-grade copper sulfate is produced by adding lime to feed-grade copper sulfate and is commonly used in pesticides.
### Adding Industrial-Grade Copper Sulfate to Feed is Wrong
Adding copper sulfate to livestock feed, such as for pigs and chickens, generally serves to regulate microbial levels in the intestines, reducing the occurrence of intestinal diseases and harmful toxins. Pig farmers even believe that feed supplemented with copper sulfate results in black feces, indicating good digestion. However, experts argue that there are pros and cons to adding copper sulfate to feed.
Shen Shih-hung stated, "Adding industrial-grade copper sulfate to feed is simply wrong." Industrial-grade copper sulfate is refined but lacks sufficient purity, leaving residues of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium in the feed. According to literature, animals cannot metabolize these substances, leading to damage to hematopoietic and nervous functions. If humans consume such contaminated pork or poultry, the consequences would be unimaginable.
### News Glossary: Copper Sulfate
Copper sulfate, chemical formula CuSO₄, is a white powder that may appear pale gray-green due to impurities. It is a soluble copper salt. The most common form of copper sulfate is its crystalline state, copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate ([Cu(H₂O)₄]SO₄·H₂O), a blue solid. Its aqueous solution appears blue due to hydrated copper ions, making anhydrous copper sulfate a common reagent in laboratories to test for the presence of water.
In industrial and agricultural applications, copper sulfate is used for refining copper and, when mixed with slaked lime, forms the pesticide Bordeaux mixture. As a heavy metal salt, copper sulfate is toxic, with a lethal dose of 0.9 g/kg for adults. In case of accidental ingestion, immediate consumption of protein-rich foods such as milk or egg whites, or the use of EDTA calcium sodium salt as an antidote, is recommended. (Source: Wikipedia)
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ NATIONAL/ NATS6/ 6976360. shtml#ixzz1pktXKi2J