Characterization of U-Shaped Exposure-Response Relationships with Application to a Copper Database

Abstract

The need to find an acceptable medium between excess and deficiency motivates the characterization of U-shaped exposure-response relationships. Previous research completed by Chambers et al. (2010) on a copper(Cu) database employed CatReg, a software program developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to model copper excess and deficiency conditions separately. They proposed a single optimal intake level of 2.6 mg Cu/day and an acceptable range of oral intake between 1.8 and 3.1 mg