Copper dosage

Copper (Cu) is a trace element essential to many biological processes, including hemoglobin formation, protection against oxidative stress, and proper immune system function.
Naturally present in water, soil, and plants, it is indispensable in small doses but can become toxic in cases of excessive accumulation.

Copper analysis therefore allows us to assess both the nutritional value of products (in the case of food and supplements) and the risks of contamination (in the case of water, soil or cosmetics).

Why analyze copper?

Measuring copper is essential for several reasons:

• Ensure regulatory compliance according to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, which sets maximum limits for metals in foodstuffs.
• Check the nutritional content of food supplements enriched with trace elements to avoid any overdose.
• Monitor environmental contamination, particularly in agricultural soils treated with copper-based plant protection products.
• Ensuring the safety of cosmetic products, particularly formulations containing natural pigments or minerals.
• Assess the quality of drinking water and the corrosion of copper pipes.

Copper, while necessary for many enzymatic functions, can cause hepatotoxic and neurological effects when present in excess. Therefore, its analytical monitoring is an essential step in quality control and food safety.

Analytical methods used

At YesWeLab , copper analysis is carried out using atomic spectrometry , capable of detecting very low concentrations in a wide variety of matrices.

ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)
This method is preferred for detecting copper in trace amounts (down to a few nanograms per liter). It also allows for simultaneous multi-element analysis , combining the measurement of copper with that of other trace elements such as zinc, iron, or manganese.

ICP-OES (or ICP-AES – inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry)
Used for higher concentrations, it guarantees precise quantification in solid matrices (foods, supplements, plant powders, soils).

AAS (atomic absorption spectroscopy)
is a complementary method for the targeted determination of a single metal. AAS offers high reliability for the analysis of total copper in food products, cosmetics, or aqueous solutions.

These techniques meet the requirements of international standards ISO 11885 , NF EN ISO 15586 , AOAC 999.10 and NF EN ISO 17294 , guaranteeing reproducible and comparable results.

Industrial and scientific applications

Copper analysis has applications in many fields:

Human nutrition and nutritional supplements:
Verification of copper content in foodstuffs, drinks, flours, cereals, seafood and multimineral supplements , in order to ensure balanced supplementation in accordance with nutritional recommendations.

Animal nutrition:
Monitoring of copper in raw materials and feed premixes to ensure the health and performance of livestock, in accordance with European regulations on mineral additives.

Cosmetics:
Control of copper content in mineral pigments, masks, thermal muds and remineralizing skincare products , in order to prevent any risk of irritation or regulatory non-compliance.

Environment and soil analyses:
Monitoring of residual copper in agricultural soils treated with copper-based fungicides (e.g., Bordeaux mixture), and assessment of concentrations in surface waters or sediments .

Affected matrices

• Food, flours, cereals, seafood
• Dietary supplements and nutraceutical products
• Drinking water, wastewater and effluents
• Cosmetics, thermal muds and mineral pigments
• Agricultural soils and environmental sediments

Recommended Related Analyses

For a comprehensive view of the mineral profile and product safety, YesWeLab recommends combining copper testing with:
Zinc (Zn) testing to assess the balance between synergistic trace elements;
Iron (Fe) testing to complete the nutritional characterization of food matrices;
Manganese (Mn) testing to monitor essential metals in supplements and foods;
and Lead (Pb) testing to verify the absence of toxic heavy metals in finished products.

Why entrust your analysis to YesWeLab?

YesWeLab relies on a network of ISO 17025 and COFRAC accredited laboratories , experts in multi-matrix elemental analysis. Our teams support manufacturers, formulators, and stakeholders in the food, cosmetics, and nutraceutical supply chains in their quality control, compliance, and risk assessment .
Thanks to its intuitive digital platform , YesWeLab simplifies analysis management: quote requests, sample tracking, and results receipt are all centralized for complete traceability.