In Chile, metal mining is concentrated between the Administrative Regions IV and VI (which includes Metropolitan Region). The northern central zones of country have abundant copper as well mineral iodine iron. Today, these residues are stored in tailing dams. Mine tailings constitute toxic composed trace elements, which many occasions deposited areas neighboring human settlements a health hazar...

Copper has been used by humanity since the bronze age and its health effects may arise both from a deficit and/or an excess of exposure/intake to copper contained in foods or in drinking water. Deficit occurs because copper is an essential element for humans, fact demonstrated for the first time in 1960. Toxicity due to ingestion of high doses of copper is documented since ancient times, and in...