Global Ingredient Risk Index Mineral

Copper Sulfate

Copper sulfate

Also known as: cupric sulfate, copper sulphate, blue vitriol, copper II sulfate

26 მარ 2026

MODERATE RISK 4.5/10 How?

This ingredient is classified as unclassified risk (GIRI score: 4.5/10).

Known Safety Concerns

Hepatotoxicity at doses approaching or exceeding UL (10 mg per day)
Lower tolerability than organic copper forms -- GI irritation
Historical use as emetic -- acute toxicity at high doses
UL 10 mg per day -- most people receive adequate copper from diet

Contraindications

Hepatotoxicity at doses approaching or exceeding UL (10 mg per day)
Lower tolerability than organic copper forms -- GI irritation

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Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

Copper sulfate is the inorganic form of copper less commonly used in consumer supplements (copper gluconate and bisglycinate are preferred). At supplement doses it is effective but has a lower tolerability profile than organic copper forms. Copper excess causes hepatotoxicity. UL is 10 mg per day. Copper sulfate in large amounts is an emetic and has been misused as a poison historically.

Scientific Name: Copper sulfate

Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

SETI Score 50/100

Risk Level High risk

Scientific Confidence Low

Evidence Strength Limited

Key Benefit Mineral

Key Safety Concern Hepatotoxicity at doses approaching or exceeding UL (10 mg per day)

Evidence Reviewed 10 PubMed studies

Scientific Confidence Low

Based on study quality, consistency, and recency

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

SETI Score 50/100

Risk Level High risk

Evidence Strength Limited

Main Benefit Mineral

Main Safety Concern Hepatotoxicity at doses approaching or exceeding UL (10 mg per day)

Ingredient Copper Sulfate

Scientific name Copper sulfate

Scientific Evidence Overview

10 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or RCT)
Main clinical benefit observed: Mineral
Evidence consistency: High consistency across studies (100%)

Safety Signals

Hepatotoxicity at doses approaching or exceeding UL (10 mg per day)
Lower tolerability than organic copper forms -- GI irritation
Historical use as emetic -- acute toxicity at high doses
UL 10 mg per day -- most people receive adequate copper from diet

Evidence Strength Limited

Final Scientific Assessment

The available scientific evidence for Copper Sulfate indicates notable safety signals that warrant caution. Use should be considered carefully and monitored, particularly in sensitive populations or alongside other medications.

Ingredient Copper Sulfate

Evidence reviewed 10 peer-reviewed studies (last 10 years)

Scientific name Copper sulfate

50 /100

Total SETI Score

High risk

Evidence quality	10/40
Evidence consistency	20/20
Safety signals	0/20
Study recency	10/10
Evidence transparency	10/10

Evidence Summary

10 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or systematic review)
0 studies identified benefits or no safety concern (GREEN)
10 studies reported limited or advisory safety evidence (YELLOW)

Evidence Policy

Only peer-reviewed scientific literature indexed in PubMed or comparable databases is included in this evaluation. Commercial websites, blogs, and marketing materials are excluded. All references include direct traceable links to source documents.

Last updated: 24 მარ 2026, 08:34

Evidence Distribution

10 Other / unclassified

Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Toxicological impact assessment of the marine diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Navicula sp., using the anti-fouling agents CuSO(4), DCOIT, and ECONEA. ↗

PMID 41844075 ↗

Journal Mar Pollut Bull

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41844075/

Kim T et al.. Toxicological impact assessment of the marine diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Navicula sp., using the anti-fouling agents CuSO(4), DCOIT, and ECONEA.. Mar Pollut Bull. 2026. PMID:41844075.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Effects of Copper Glycinate Replacing High-Dose Copper Sulfate on Growth Performance, Trace Element Metabolism and Stem Cell Activity in Growing Pigs. ↗

PMID 41824266 ↗

Journal Biol Trace Elem Res

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41824266/

Gao X et al.. Effects of Copper Glycinate Replacing High-Dose Copper Sulfate on Growth Performance, Trace Element Metabolism and Stem Cell Activity in Growing Pigs.. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2026. PMID:41824266.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Effective Antibacterial Medical Mask Based on the Novel Biosynthesized Copper Nanoparticles (CuNPs). ↗

PMID 41809982 ↗

Journal Int J Microbiol

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41809982/

Kumeleh SM et al.. Effective Antibacterial Medical Mask Based on the Novel Biosynthesized Copper Nanoparticles (CuNPs).. Int J Microbiol. 2026. PMID:41809982.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Role of extracorporeal therapy in poisoning - A case based narrative. ↗

PMID 41798046 ↗

Journal Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41798046/

Quaiser S et al.. Role of extracorporeal therapy in poisoning - A case based narrative.. Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2026. PMID:41798046.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Injection molded multidrug intravaginal rings with antimicrobial properties for prophylaxis and cancer treatment in women's health context. ↗

PMID 41784214 ↗

Journal Drug Dev Ind Pharm

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41784214/

Raimundo GA et al.. Injection molded multidrug intravaginal rings with antimicrobial properties for prophylaxis and cancer treatment in women's health context.. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2026. PMID:41784214.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Peimisine-sulfide improves inflammation caused by copper sulfate through inhibiting ferroptosis using zebrafish embryos. ↗

PMID 41765578 ↗

Journal J Environ Sci (China)

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41765578/

Chen S et al.. Peimisine-sulfide improves inflammation caused by copper sulfate through inhibiting ferroptosis using zebrafish embryos.. J Environ Sci (China). 2026. PMID:41765578.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
CuO nanoparticles trigger cuproptosis-linked mitochondrial damage and gut Microbiota-Metabolome disruption in zebrafish. ↗

PMID 41720241 ↗

Journal Environ Pollut

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41720241/

Zhang L et al.. CuO nanoparticles trigger cuproptosis-linked mitochondrial damage and gut Microbiota-Metabolome disruption in zebrafish.. Environ Pollut. 2026. PMID:41720241.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
2,2'-Biquinoline Modified Expanded Graphite Electrode for the Detection of Cuprous Ions in Electrolytic Copper Foil Electrolyte. ↗

PMID 41681275 ↗

Journal Materials (Basel)

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41681275/

Ming Z et al.. 2,2'-Biquinoline Modified Expanded Graphite Electrode for the Detection of Cuprous Ions in Electrolytic Copper Foil Electrolyte.. Materials (Basel). 2026. PMID:41681275.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Temperature-driven phase transformations and microstructure evolution in the thermoelectric colusite Cu(26)V(2)Sn(6)S(32). An in situ synchrotron diffraction study. ↗

PMID 41668559 ↗

Journal Dalton Trans

Year 2026

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41668559/

Guiot F et al.. Temperature-driven phase transformations and microstructure evolution in the thermoelectric colusite Cu(26)V(2)Sn(6)S(32). An in situ synchrotron diffraction study.. Dalton Trans. 2026. PMID:41668559.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Lessons from the Past: Examining the Historical Context of Trachoma Management in Iran (1925-1941). ↗

PMID 41778430 ↗

Journal Arch Iran Med

Year 2025

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41778430/

Saghebi R et al.. Lessons from the Past: Examining the Historical Context of Trachoma Management in Iran (1925-1941).. Arch Iran Med. 2025. PMID:41778430.

Q × L × D × S × 10 = 4.5 / 10

The GIRI Score is the product of four independently computed evidence components, each normalised to 0–1, then scaled to 0–10. Every component is derived exclusively from peer-reviewed references and regulatory data — no editorial judgement is applied.

0 of 10 approved references (score saturates at 10). More peer-reviewed studies = stronger evidence base.

Method: Q = number of approved references ÷ 10 (capped at 1.0)

50%

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies

Method: L = mean study-level weight across approved references. Level 1 (meta-analysis / systematic review) = 1.0; Level 2 (RCT) = 0.8; Level 3 (cohort/case-control) = 0.6; Level 4 (case report) = 0.4; Level 5 (animal / in-vitro) = 0.2.

Benefit

Risk

50%

Mixed or neutral — roughly equal benefit and risk signals

Method: D = (sum of risk-scored references − sum of benefit-scored references) ÷ total evidence score, then scaled from [−1, 1] to [0, 1]. 0.0 = pure benefit; 0.5 = neutral; 1.0 = pure risk.

50%

One or more monitoring-level safety signals active

Method: S = 0.5 (neutral baseline) + sum of active signal severity deltas ÷ 10. Severity deltas: Critical = +2.0, High = +1.5, Moderate = +1.0, Low = +0.5. Capped at 1.0.

0Q × 5L × 5D × 5S = 4.5 / 10

Final GIRI Score for Copper Sulfate. Risk level thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

Full methodology & data sources

The GIRI Score is computed entirely from structured data — no editorial scoring or subjective weighting is applied at any step.

References: Only approved references are counted. Each reference is assigned an evidence level (L1–L5) and a direction (risk / neutral / benefit) by the reference manager or AI classifier.
Safety Signals: Sourced from regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others) and pharmacovigilance databases. Only active signals count toward the score.
Formula version: GIRI Score v3.7.0 — Q × L × D × S × 10.
Limitations: The score reflects published evidence and recorded signals as of the last update date. It is not a clinical risk assessment and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

MODERATE RISK 4.5/10

Based on available regulatory signals and scientific evidence, this ingredient presents a moderate safety concern. Caution is advised, particularly at high doses or in sensitive populations.

LOW
0–3.0

MODERATE
3.0–5.5

HIGH
5.5–7.5

CRITICAL
7.5–10

4.5

The score pin shows exactly where this ingredient falls on the fixed risk scale.

What drove the Moderate classification for Copper Sulfate

A score of 4.5 places this ingredient in the Moderate band. Thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

0 approved references.

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies (Level 4–5).

Neutral or mixed — benefit and risk signals roughly balanced.

No active signals — S component is at neutral baseline (0.5), contributing no extra risk weight.

No major regulatory restrictions or advisories recorded across monitored jurisdictions (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others).

How are the Low / Moderate / High / Critical thresholds defined?

The four risk levels are fixed score bands. A score is assigned to exactly one level based on where it falls:

Level	Score	Meaning
LOW	0.0 – 2.9	Sparse or predominantly beneficial evidence. No active safety alerts.
MODERATE	3.0 – 5.4	Mixed signals — some risk alongside benefit. Caution at high doses or in sensitive groups.
HIGH	5.5 – 7.4	Multiple studies or regulatory alerts documenting adverse effects. Professional oversight recommended.
CRITICAL	7.5 – 10	Regulatory restrictions in one or more major jurisdictions. Serious documented harm. Avoid without specialist supervision.

Thresholds are fixed constants (GIRI_Score_Utils::LEVEL_THRESHOLDS). They do not change per ingredient and are never subject to editorial adjustment.

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Copper Sulfate

Safety Profile

Known Safety Concerns

Contraindications

Interactions

Evidence and Scientific Findings

Ingredient Overview

Biological and Chemical Classification

Mechanism of Action

Clinical Evidence of Effectiveness

Pharmacokinetics

Recommended Dosage

SETI — Scientific Evidence Transparency Index

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

Evidence Summary

Evidence Policy

Evidence Distribution

Score Transparency

Risk Level Classification

What drove the Moderate classification for Copper Sulfate

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