Do bronze or brass alloys cause birth defects or cancer?

[aterry33]

Ok, here's the deal... Wife bought two new bronze lamps for the bedroom. On them is one of those labels stating that "bronze and brass alloys are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects..."

Now, I'm skeptical of ANYTHING that comes out of California, for obvious reasons. She is all worried that if she becomes pregnant and touches the lamp she will expose our child to lead. I'm thinking we probably get more lead out of drinking out of a drinking fountain than you do touching a lamp, and that you'd have to probably chew on the lamp for a while to get any appreciable lead into your system, but I can't say that I know for certain.

Any of you metals experts out there know the answer to this? Much ado about nothing? Another stupid California label?

 

[writerinmo]

I always read those and tell the wife "Sure is a good thing we don't live in California, aint it?"

 

[Andy Griffith]

Sure. In California, people take files and hacksaws and proceed to grind on the lamp for a week or two- then scrape up the filings and put it on their sandwich. This is the only way a person can possibly get poisoned I figure. Although, the filings would do more damage to them than the metals.

All joking aside...
Although there's a bunch of different types and make-ups of brasses, copper and zinc are the main ingredients. A person can get poisoned from either or both, in sufficient quantities. How someone would in a common household setting, I don't know. Of course, some brass may contain lead- that's done been beat to death.

If someone on here comes along and says they've seen where a kid ate a brass lamp, I'll eat my hat...

It's not the fault of the good gun owners that they live in a world gone mad!

Ooooo! I got an idea!!!!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I suspect that living can cause cancer-but I'm still investigating that. I'll get back tou you. I do concurr with previous posters however, if California feels that it is bad for you, stay out of California.

 

[Beemer-mark]

If you'll go to CA you'll find that everything causes cancer - which is probably the truth since we have no clue what does cause it.

Public buildings, even brand new ones, haves signs on the doors that state "This building may have substances know to California to cause cancer".

It's a clear case where "warnings" are meaningless and people scared of thier own shadow are writing the laws.

 

[jag312]

California is known to cause cancer and birth defects. All those in California who are concerned about their health need to leave the state immediately. I suggest getting as far from California as possible. France or England are good places to move to, and I've heard that people there just love tofu and brussels sprouts.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

See page two of this MSDS: http://www.petersonsteel.com/beta/200442875040.MSDS%20BRASS%20BRONZE.pdf?LibraryPage=2&document=200442875040.MSDS+BRASS+BRONZE.pdf.

Apparently, while inhaled nickel fumes may be implicated in some forms of cancer (nose, bronchus, etc.) there's no evidence that copper alloys do. I can't find anything on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website either. I presume that Californians who belong to this Forum, are NRA members, etc., will be spared exile in England.


Bullseye

 

[oldman45]

I got an article yesterday saying that the coil springs in bed mattresses causes cancer. It suggested people get a meter to check for signals the mattress may be giving off so they can replace the mattress.

Still believe it is in the genes. Some people smoke all their life and never get cancer. Others never smoked and died from lung cancer.

Those I know with cancer, myself included, had parents and grandparents that had cancer. When I was diagnosed with malignant cancer, the doctors were very honest. They said that it is mostly an inherited trait. Both my parents died of it, two grandparents died of it and none of us ever owned brass or copper lamps but I did live in CA for a short time.

 

[JcMack]

For reference I'm 63: Literally all the female members on my mothers side of the family have had cancer. My mother died at 52 of cancer. My father was adopted so there's no telling what his background is. He smoked 4 packs a day for 35 years and died of emphysema, not cancer at 64. While I'm sure many carcinogens are out there, it appears genetics are the big culprit.

 

[BarbC]

I blew up a little 5" plastic toy parrot from a Subway kids' meal, only to read below the valve:

NOT TO BE USED AS A LIFESAVING DEVICE​

Here's a bunch of stupid warning labels: Dumb Warning Labels - Brought to you by an overly litigious society!

 

[venomballistics]

seriously though .. copper is a toxic metal.
its not like munching a sodium sandwich or anything but the toxisity of copper has been a useful property through history.
It tends to be antimicrobial, hence its use in plumbing as well as ships since it retards the growth of barnacles and the like.
I believe we can prove however, that California politicians are far more toxic than this ... but far less useful

 

[Pilgrim]

If copper or copper alloys (bronze) cause cancer, why are all the water pipes in your house made of copper?

 

[venomballistics]

If copper or copper alloys (bronze) cause cancer, why are all the water pipes in your house made of copper?

for its antimicrobial properties.
"fungus" just does not take on a copper surface since its just poisonous enough to kill off the bacteria trying to live on it. This kept pipes clear of blockage and contributes to a cleaner water system.

if you really wanna see how nasty copper can be about killing stuff off ... get some Muriatic acid and a handfull of copper speaker wire.
strip the insulation and disolve it in the acid till it wont eat anymore.
the resulting green fluid can kill off anything.

a similar thing happens naturally in copper pipes and vessels but to a far lesser degree ... in fact it nearly the perfect amount of poison to solve water problems

 

[BarbC]

Copper is also a necessary nutritional element. Copper

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Both the Centers for Disease Control and EPA have stated that there is no known link between copper exposure in humans and the development of cancer. See, e.g., ATSDR - ToxFAQs™: Copper.

However, this does not mean copper is not toxic. Although some copper is necessary for human health, like anything else, in large quantities (grams, in humans) it is toxic. See: Copper toxicity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As stated in VB's posts, it is an effective antimicrobial agent. It is used widely as copper sulfate to prevent or control a variety of problems, e.g., blackspot on roses, fungus on grapes, and so forth.

Like many other things, it is a matter of the dose. . .in correct amounts, it is beneficial. If the amount or concentration is too great, problems develop. Same thing with the rat poison warfarin, for example. In low doses, the exact same compound is sold as Coumadin, an effective anticoagulant (clot preventer) for people with cardiovascular disease. But, if a human overdoses on Coumadin, even just slightly, internal bleeding which can be fatal, will result.

This is all interesting and important, but none of it speaks to why the State of California would place warning labels on brass or bronze lamps. Sounds ridiculous on its face.

Hope this helps.


Bullseye

 

[DeadAye]

but none of it speaks to why the State of California would place warning labels on brass or bronze lamps.

I think I've got it.
Folks in CA are know to grind up about anything and snort it or even mainline it. Hence the warnings that only seem to apply to California.

 

[loutent]

Also, many bronze and brass objects like lamps are clear lacquered to prevent tarnishing - but in CA, the lacquer probably also causes cancer

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

bronze and brass alloys are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects

The grammar police have arrived. The above would have been a bit closer to correct it it had looked like this:

bronze and brass alloys are "known" by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects

The above is nearly incontrovertible evidence of the brain-softening effect of California water.

As our Buddhist friends say, "Forewarned is forearmed."

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Well I guess I have to quit licking my brass clean and buy a tumbler!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

for its antimicrobial properties.
"fungus" just does not take on a copper surface since its just poisonous enough to kill off the bacteria trying to live on it. This kept pipes clear of blockage and contributes to a cleaner water system.

if you really wanna see how nasty copper can be about killing stuff off ... get some Muriatic acid and a handfull of copper speaker wire.
strip the insulation and disolve it in the acid till it wont eat anymore.
the resulting green fluid can kill off anything.

a similar thing happens naturally in copper pipes and vessels but to a far lesser degree ... in fact it nearly the perfect amount of poison to solve water problems

Used to be the ingredient in bottom paint until they decided it was too toxic and took it off the market.