Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Copper salts, a cautionary tale.

Copper salts, a cautionary tale.

Sedit - 18-12-2012 at 22:09

I wish I could write more on the subject but I wanted to put this out there since I am 99% sure now that this is the cause of my affliction.

I have been de-plating gold plated jewelry using HCl/H2O2. The HCl was made from H2SO4 and NaCl dissolved in H2O2.

Its very haphazard and im just playing at the moment until I get more HCl and am able to work the 2000+ grams of plated material.

Anyway.... This is at least the third time I have woken up the next day with the worst muscle and body pains you could imagine. Its like I ran a marathon the day before and I am convinced its due to copper toxicity.

Has anyone else ever noticed anything like this or am I just special and sensitive to such a thing? It wasn't until I started looking into it that I realized that the LD 50 and the likes is rather low for copper sulfate.

[Edited on 19-12-2012 by ScienceSquirrel]

elementcollector1 - 18-12-2012 at 22:23

I've worked with salts of copper plenty a time before now. Now, being the careless, stupid chemist that I am, more often than not a drop of whatever solution I'm using is guaranteed to get on my skin somehow.
What about the HCl, H2SO4, etc.? Those might be affecting you more.

violet sin - 18-12-2012 at 23:19

my hands have been completely green palmed many a times from e-waste leaching. and I have never had any sore muscles from it. no headache or anything else either. I made a fair amount of CuSO4 by electrolysis, I reclaim gold from e-waste with muriatic and peroxide like you, and I electrolyzed a bunch of copper, nickel, chromium, lead and small amounts of many other metals. in HCl, H2SO4, vinegar, NaOH sol. and others. and even with all that and getting liquid on me often, I have never gotten even a headache.( quite careful about Pb, Cr+6 ) I always wash up right away unless its just CuCl2 leaching. and of course I am not bragging about being sloppy like I'm badass, but $hit happens. and usually while you are holding something ya can't just drop. anyhow you may just be quite sensitive to it. yes I have had a heavy metals blood test, below normal thanx. shoulda seen the look on the nurses face as she was listing off some toxic metals and asking if I owned/contacted them. yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, no, yep, no, no, yep. what can I say, I find diff metals interesting.

so how much were you exposed to? by comparison to my green hands comment... cause if you are just talking a lill patch or 2 on fingers, no way. I deff would have felt some pain if that was the case for threshold. another good question is do you get localized dermatitis, itching, reddening, swelling of knuckles? good luck figuring it out

Sedit - 18-12-2012 at 23:31

Swollen knuckles yes, majorly which is one of the things that increases the pain. Im at a loss as to any other cause for these pains because everytime is followed by relatively low levels of exposure. Could it be a cumulative effect or something that is pushed over the edge now buy the salts or could there be something else in the jewelry like Pb, Sn or something of that nature that could cause this?

I

woelen - 18-12-2012 at 23:50

I have severe doubts about your problems coming from the copper. I myself have done a lot of experimenting with copper and its salts and I never have been particularly careful in not getting any copper salt on my skin. Actually, I have to admit that I still, when working with copper sulfate or copper chloride, I am not very careful. I never have noticed any ill effects.

I always have understood that copper ions are only moderately toxic to humans and most mammals, while being very toxic to plants and some lower life forms.

IrC - 19-12-2012 at 01:46

Don't know if it applies but I have heard of similar symptoms in people with allergic reactions to poor quality jewelry. Histamine production and rheumatoid arthritis type swelling in joints. Usually their skin gets greenish areas where the cheap plated rings and so forth contact it. Flu like pain is common as well. The cause is an actual allergic reaction or sensitization to the metals. Seems to me ions of such metals in solution contacting the skin would cause a greater effect in these cases than merely wearing the metal items where slow chemical reactions between amines on the skin and the metals occur. One would think however you would have already had experience at some point from wearing such items, at least noticing skin coloration. I could be off the mark but it is at least a plausible theory to consider. Copper, brass, and gold plate would surely relate to the cheap jewelry sensitization some people have. I know of this as my mom decades ago had such problems not to mention in her last 20 years real problems with rheumatoid arthritis. Could the biochemical cause in people who develop rheumatoid arthritis and/or have reactions to wearing such metals, relate to this contact sensitization with cheap rings and earrings and the turning green issue where the plated alloys contact the skin. Especially if you were inhaling minute amounts of mists coming from your working with these metals in solution. Does anyone think there might be a connection here?

Endimion17 - 19-12-2012 at 03:21

I'd say it's influenza.
If you're feeling like shit, you better go to your doctor.

Sedit - 19-12-2012 at 05:34

Its not the flu I trust me on that.

Also I have messed around with chemistry for years and never had this problem till recently. I totally understand everyone sceptisim and I am still on the fence myself but the timing seems more then a coincidence at this point. It's three times now over a large period of time where I have woke the next day with these pains and perhaps its not the copper but its something in the acids and/or the copper thats causing this. It only last for perhaps a day and a half or two.

elementcollector1 - 19-12-2012 at 13:15

Aww, should've kept the 'cationary tale' part of the title. It was hilarious!

Twospoons - 19-12-2012 at 13:32

Could be a nickel layer in the plating? Nickel allergy is reasonably common.

Eddygp - 19-12-2012 at 14:04

Nickel allergy is very common, notably among brass wind musicians (nickel on mouthpiece under a layer of silver, I think).
It is a plausible cause of this problem. Ask for a doctor.

cyanureeves - 19-12-2012 at 15:44

i was getting severe headaches to the which everyone would tell me it was all the chemicals i was tinkering with.i was all bummed out and was starting to even admit to it all the while i would look closely at the wood shelving in my tool shed. i was about to rip all the wood out thinking that chlorine or nitric had gotten to the wood and was emitting fumes.damn patchouli oil i ordered on ebay that i was using as insect repellant was the culprit and it was making me piss twice every night too.i was like Please PLEASE not my salts and chemicals.i hope its not copper or anything of the sort sedit because i would rather find a voodoo doll with a pin in its head than to give up chemicals.

triplepoint - 19-12-2012 at 16:09

This s an AMATEUR chemistry board. If you think you may be suffering from poisoning, see a real doctor.

plante1999 - 19-12-2012 at 16:10

I guess headaches was common for chemist of ye old 1800s. I do not have headache but I bled from my nose for no apparent reason during the night. I cannot smell anymore most smells. Vinegar smell give me pain to the nose but chlorine,bromine smell quite good. I guess me chemistry hobby spoiled my nose... I have also two permanent chemical burn. But my I don't have poisoning, at least blood test say so.

I don't think copper can do such poisoning, however, in E-waste much toxic metals are present. Take note that insoluble toxic metal are of no harm to human, but moderately toxic soluble one, are.

[Edited on 20-12-2012 by plante1999]

[Edited on 20-12-2012 by plante1999]

Lambda-Eyde - 19-12-2012 at 16:20

I can't see how you manage to get metal poisoning from something as benign as Cu (relative to V, Cr, Ba and the likes) without doing something seriously wrong. And by "seriously wrong" I mean wetting your skin with Cu solutions and inhaling aerosols of the stuff over time. What, exactly, have you been doing, and what protective equipment (if any) did you use?

Quote: Originally posted by triplepoint

This s an AMATEUR chemistry board. If you think you may be suffering from poisoning, see a real doctor.

This.

m1tanker78 - 19-12-2012 at 16:24

Sedit, I noticed similar symptoms as you mentioned during the time I was messing around with copper/nickel separation. I, too, credited the symptoms to copper toxicity. It turns out that the very fine copper powder I was churning out was [at least partially] nano-sized. Each time I uncapped the bottle of powder, I'd smell something strange even when I didn't agitate the bottle much. After I made the connection, I used a light trick to 'see' the copper dust that was emitted.

Oddly, I never recall such symptoms from slight exposure to copper salts or solutions of the same. Of course, it was skin exposure, not respiratory. Just to be on the safe side, I took some ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and zinc supplements for a few days after. The symptoms cleared up shortly after; I believe the same will hold true for you.

Has anyone else here gotten a whiff of fine copper dust??

Tank

plante1999 - 19-12-2012 at 16:41

Quote: Originally posted by m1tanker78

Has anyone else here gotten a whiff of fine copper dust??

Tank

Metal dust/ fumes are very dangerous for us, humans. I never read why, But I think it is a mix of two factor. One,these metals are not healthy and usually somewhat toxic. Secondly, metal dust are not removable, when entered in your lung, I don't think it clear up in a month. Some metal are less susceptible to do health problem, such as titanium.

m1tanker78 - 19-12-2012 at 17:12

Quote: Originally posted by plante1999

Metal dust/ fumes are very dangerous for us, humans. [...]

I agree but my ignorance got the best of me. I never expected the copper powder to rise up out of the jar like fumes! All I want for Christmas is a fume hood. :/

Tank

IrC - 19-12-2012 at 17:56

"I have been de-plating gold plated jewelry"

Everyone is focusing on Cu but what other metals are really involved. Metal fume fever has flu like symptoms, I know this from arc welding galvanized pipe 18 hours a day when I was 20. No internet to look things up, no knowledge on the subject easily available, and no mention from the company of any danger. Plus, sensitization of an allergic nature is possible in some people and the amount of exposure to cause it can be exceedingly small.

If you carefully consider the symptoms mentioned, swollen knuckles is likely related to histamine production. One can consider arthritis to be an allergic reaction where your own immune system is attacking various areas in your body. This coupled with the rapid onset related to his chemical working leads me to think he is extremely sensitive and allergic to something in his de-plating. Possibly after symptoms subside he can one by one expose himself in a safe way to each element or chemical to find the cause. Going to a specialist is no fun unless you like slow torture with needles. Been there done that. They paint a zillion dots on your back and poke each one with a needle tainted with a list of substances keeping a map or record. Then later they look to see which ones show a reaction. I doubt however they will use any of the substances he is dealing with so this may tell him nothing.

[Edited on 12-20-2012 by IrC]

Wizzard - 20-12-2012 at 06:01

How about chlorine fumes from the de-plating bath?? Those aren't terribly healthy.

Lambda-Eyde - 20-12-2012 at 11:41

Quote: Originally posted by Wizzard

How about chlorine fumes from the de-plating bath?? Those aren't terribly healthy.

Hmm, with elemental halogens I'd worry more about lung damage than joint pains. AFAIK those symptoms point towards metal poisoning.

unionised - 20-12-2012 at 13:04

I'm sure I have read of agricultural workers spraying copper based fungicides that stained their skin blue.
They didn't seem to be affected in the way you are suggesting.

If I'm right then it's not copper and you should go and see a doctor (to find out what it is).
On the other hand, if I'm wrong then you have copper poisoning and should see a doctor.

On the other hand if you have been exposed to fumes from burning zinc...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever

in which case, go and see a doctor.

Eddygp - 20-12-2012 at 13:14

Quote: Originally posted by unionised

I'm sure I have read of agricultural workers spraying copper based fungicides that stained their skin blue.
They didn't seem to be affected in the way you are suggesting.

If I'm right then it's not copper and you should go and see a doctor (to find out what it is).
On the other hand, if I'm wrong then you have copper poisoning and should see a doctor.

On the other hand if you have been exposed to fumes from burning zinc...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever

in which case, go and see a doctor.

In a nutshell, you ought to see a doctor now.

phlogiston - 20-12-2012 at 14:23

Many people are unaware that many platinum and gold salts are actually quite toxic as well. Especially platinum salts, some of which are used for chemotherapy.

But acute poisoning with these salts or copper salts do not normally give the symptoms you describe.

My vote is on nickel allergy as well, but do see a real professional doctor if you really are keen to find out. Unfortunately though, if it really turns out to be nickel poisoning, I suspect he will suggest to give up your hobby.

IrC - 20-12-2012 at 17:05

Quote: Originally posted by unionised

in which case, go and see a doctor.

Not always useful. I overhead welded galvanized conduit in 18 hour shifts to I-beams where the pipe was going to house a cable bundle all around the plant to various control devices. No knowledge (1974 IIRC) no information, and as I said no mention by the company of any danger. Wiki would have been nice back then. Went to work very ill like flu on and off over several months. One doctor had me taking Marax (SP?, a broncho-dilator) so I could get my breath. Another kept saying I was smoking weed laced with chemicals as the cause of a nearly life threatening bronchial infection so bad it got down into my lungs and I was going to work with walking pneumonia repeatedly for a long time. I really was not well for damn near a year after I quit that job. I kept telling the idiot taking my money (no, health insurance was not available from that company, typical in that era) that I had not been smoking anything but it fell on deaf ears. Had He believed me that it must be work related perhaps He could have read up on the subject. I assume doctors were aware of MFF even back then. Not that one, in my experience then and on many occasions over the years since I have had many bouts of problems where the doctor never listened to you and never believed a word you said to them. So my advice is if you do go to one make sure they listen to you. I vote on the Nickel allergy scenario as well for a strong possibility as to the cause of your troubles.

Sedit - 20-12-2012 at 17:20

I should do alot of things but they rarely happen so seeing a doctor isn't on my todo list either.

I can't fully explain it but it has happened three times now and Im sure it has to do with the solution.

Moral of the story is don't let yourself believe ANY of your chemicals are benign because most are not. I am typing this with swollen knuckles as we speak which is a result of be feeling there was less danger then there really was.

violet sin - 20-12-2012 at 17:58

so I am not in any way licensed to give any medical advise... but doc's would prob do a skin scratch test to see what you are allergic to. if it is really just some copper. could you not dissolve a lill bit of pure copper in HCl and put a tiny dot of it on a portion of you skin to see if you indeed are allergic to it? might rule out copper as the culprit. that really sounds like nickel probs and like many have said it is quite common and Ni is used a lot in plated products.

this won't help you in any way other than perhaps a lill bit of ease of mind. if copper doesn't do it then it must be some other metal in there. could try wearing one of the items you are leaching and see if it gets all itchy.

or don't do it your call. but on another front, I eat a lot of vegies rich in antioxidants especially during and after dealing with heavy metals( and no, not WHILE working ). Ya I know it sounds all hippie like, and well to be honest the big beard and long hair do too, but try it. parsley in particular is good. this was the first web page that came up when I did a search for it take a look

http://nurturing-naturally.com/2012/04/12/foods-that-help-de...

all natural and ya don't have to worry 'bout the ole' liver falling off screaming

at best it helps, at worst its good for you and you just don't like the taste. take care and feel better.

Sedit - 20-12-2012 at 18:48

Im not really showing any skin reaction hence the reason I didn't really consider it an allergy. Copper or Nickle should show patches on the skin and im getting nothing more then perhaps very mild dry skin more then likely from the acids and mussle and joint pain.

Lambda-Eyde - 20-12-2012 at 18:50

Quote: Originally posted by violet sin

or don't do it your call. but on another front, I eat a lot of vegies rich in antioxidants especially during and after dealing with heavy metals( and no, not WHILE working ).

Aren't antioxidants thought to have a positive health effect for neutralizing free radicals? How does that help with heavy metal poisoning?

Quote: Originally posted by violet sin

http://nurturing-naturally.com/2012/04/12/foods-that-help-de...

all natural and ya don't have to worry 'bout the ole' liver falling off screaming

You know what's also natural? Botulinum toxin, palytoxin, maitotoxin, strychnine, morphine, and feces. For fuck's sake, this is a chemistry forum...

[Edited on 21-12-2012 by Lambda-Eyde]

violet sin - 20-12-2012 at 19:15

HEY -Lambda-Eyde - if you took the time to read ANYTHING about certain foods helping with heavy metal in your system... like maybe a fucking 30second search.... then you might know about the benefits. get off my back jerk. I was just offering some helpful advise. what doctors told me when I thought I may have had HM poisoning.

"You know what's also natural? Botulinum toxin, palytoxin, maitotoxin, strychnine, morphine, and feces. For fuck's sake, this is a chemistry forum..." seriously WTF?

I went to a REAL doctor, at a REAL hospital, and had REAL blood drawn for REAL blood tests... despite my joking about the long hair and beard, this had nothing to do with a "hippie" mind set. and like I said it couldn't hurt. I in no way said go eat 20#'s of raw parsley dirt and roots included. I did however suggest a simple non toxic and helpful addition to ones diet that might be useful in this situation. where are your manners man.

elementcollector1 - 20-12-2012 at 19:46

He countered your statement with a statement of his own. A good thing would be to
a) answer his questions about the relationship between antioxidants and heavy metal poisoning, and
b) Find some rebuke, if any, to his statement about botulinum, morphine, etc.

A not-so-good thing would be to make a strawman argument. In no way did he suggest that any part of this discussion included eating "20#s (not sure what unit you were trying to convey here) of raw parsley dirt and roots included". Sure, antioxidants are a helpful addition to the diet for all sorts of reasons. Can we prove that helping with heavy-metal toxicity is one of them?

Lambda-Eyde - 20-12-2012 at 19:51

Before this turns into a flame war I want to clarify a few things. The first part of my post was a honest question. What I learned during general chemistry (and some own studying) is that antioxidants trap free radicals in the body. I don't understand how that helps your body to get rid of heavy metals. I ask because I'm not a biology/medicine type of person and I have limited knowledge on the subject.

The second part of my post was a harsh comment. Because, as someone who is interested in chemistry, there are few things that annoy me more than when people use the label "natural" as a synonym for "harmless and good for you", and seeing this used on a chemistry forum pisses me off even more. I'm enraged when "alties" say that vaccines and chemotherapy is bad because they're man-made, but that eating apricot kernels to cure cancer is perfectly harmless because it's natural. It's a dangerous fallacy, and is in its core unscientific nonsense. As for the "seriously WTF?"-response, you should think again about my statement. The most toxic compounds known to man are perfectly natural, made in organisms by biosynthesis, but many vaccines and lifesaving anticancer drugs are either semi-synthetic or completely synthetic, made by men and women of science in laboratories. If you haven't understood it by now, I'm mostly just pissed at the way you use words. It might seem like an overreaction, but language is power.

Also, I'll have you know that I sport a mighty fine ponytail myself.

violet sin - 20-12-2012 at 21:48

fine I felt like I had been assualted for offering what a doctor told me... so sorry... and the more convincing(honest) : I guess this was a misunderstanding, and I'm sorry for snappin at ya.

but think about this. the link I posted was like I said, the FIRST to come up and had a lill bit of info in it as an incentive to look further. thats all. I mean the bit about all the toxic stuff being natural, when I was talking about a normal food item.. i didn't suggest some crazy root or bark of some exotic plant. it was a common ingredient in soups and as a garnish on many dishes. so you could imagine how I would not normally correlate my suggestion and feces or morphine. by the 20#'s of raw root. that was the only way I could see equating any of the things you mentioned with my suggestion. dirty, unwashed weeds eaten raw. logical assumption? I felt it was.

I thought that joking about the hippie thing seemed like some one had used that as a point of attack like I was a patchouli smelling wierdo... there are lots of them in this area. and it's usually not a good feeling to try and help, just to see that you were ridiculed.

as for your question: I read that it is supposed to bind to the heavy metals and aid in elimination via urine and feces.

they do a lot more but I am not about to do all the work. I read a lot of the links others post and thought it was common courtesy to look at them before shooting it down as hooey. I was just suggesting what a doctor had told me... when THEY came to the conclusion I likely had HM poisoning based on my neurological symptoms. I was told to take up a diet with a few things on it while waiting for the blood tests to come back. so it was a sound suggestion based on science there.

http://www.heavymetaldetox.net/Research%20Articles/Dr%20Diet...

"Natural Oral Agents

Cilantro (chinese parsley)

This kitchen herb is capable of mobilizing mercury, cadmium, lead and aluminum in both bones and the central nervous system. It is probably the only effective agent in mobilizing mercury stored in the inracellular space (attached to mitochondria, tubulin, liposomes etc) and in the nucleus of the cell (reversing DNA damage of mercury). Because cilantro mobilizes more toxins then it can carry out of the body, it may flood the connective tissue (where the nerves reside) with metals, that were previously stored in safer hiding places. This process is called re-toxification. It can easily be avoided by simultaneously giving an intestinal toxin-absorbing agent. A recent animal study demonstrated rapid removal of aluminum and lead from the brain and skeleton superior to any known other detox agent. Even while the animal was continuously poisoned with aluminum, the bone content of aluminum continued to drop during the observation
period significantly. "

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/027434_cilantro_natural_detox.htm...

"Below, we're collected some important research on this remarkable ability of the cilantro herb."

there are many more. like I said it is as easy as typing in "parsley as a heavey metal detox" google, or simply looking at the link I posted. hey I am not trying to cause waves here, I like this forum a lot, most everyone is quite nice. I hope you can see things from my side here a bit. rock on with the pony tail

I work on a construction crew so they don't care what your hair looks like. also its cold as hell on the coast here so the beard is awesome.

[Edited on 21-12-2012 by violet sin]

unionised - 21-12-2012 at 05:00

I had a look at those websites and they are drivel.
No actual evidence is supplied.

violet sin - 21-12-2012 at 08:05

like i said, just some of the sites i found in a handfull of minutes to try and give some semblance of supportive evidence. I'm not about to spend my whole evening searching for a fully credited 100 % trustworthy site. do a lill poking around your self, that is your best bet to get a better understanding. I was told to do this by a healtcare professional in the local hospital. not by some accupunturist or raki healer.

and honestly it was just a helpfull suggestion i was passing on. I'm not wasting any more time trying to suggest some one research it them selves. I was curious so I read...

maybe this weekend I will look for a bit more scholarly refrenses for my sake, but for now i'm off to work and prob not gonna bother posting what I find in this thread. I'm sorry that the ones I posted didn't do anything for ya. I know science is based on skepticism such that many dont believe untill proven to them. but it is just as much built on curiosity and a search for knowledge. not just waiting for some one to drop it off to ya. not trying to diss any one just sayn. hope you all have a good friday.

AJKOER - 21-12-2012 at 09:04

What you most likely need is an experienced chelation therapists (expensive) who routinely deal in treating heavy metal toxicity.

There are also over the counter dangerous therapies from your local health food store (like EDTA which I have taken to address blood pressure issues). However, if you decide to take this risky path, be very cautious as rapid precipitation of heavy metal from your blood can kill you by destroying your kidneys, hence my recommendation of a real chelation doctor.

unionised - 21-12-2012 at 09:17

How can you say that he needs chelation therapy?
There's no reason to think that.
for a start, while he may have been exposed to some copper he hasn't got the symptoms of copper poisoning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_toxicity

The point of saying that he goes to a doctor is so he can get a diagnosis before anyone suggests treatment.

AJKOER - 21-12-2012 at 09:47

Believe me when I tell you that a chelation specials will test you before you are treated and demand more tests after each treatment and the consumption of large quantities of mineral and vitamins you must consume. Hence the sizable expense.

I also agree with those that suspect Cu is not the likely culprit. More likely Ni,..., but does not matter as chelation is the route to wellness in my opinion.

Now, I should warn you that there is an ongoing feud between heart and chelation specialists. The issue is the ability of chemicals (some amino acids in particular) to dissolve substances safely from your blood and the inside of your arties. Even small biased studies sponsored by heart doctors appear to support the power of chelation therapies which is, of course, a major assault on the profession of heart doctors itself.

[Edited on 22-12-2012 by AJKOER]

SM2 - 21-12-2012 at 14:26

for you, possible hepatoxicity. no one should eat hebby metd'als in large amounts, but you might have severe allergy. doesn't seem likely as to the simple nature of the molecule. be careful!

Eddygp - 27-5-2013 at 13:12

Sorry for bumping this thread, but lately, when I platy French horn, I get greenish-grayish skin colorations on the finger that holds the bell of the instrument. Is this just some copper carbonate depositing or something else?

binaryclock - 27-5-2013 at 18:54

When I work with Copper Sulfate, I can start to feel a bit sick. When boiling CuSO4 I use a respirator because the fumes make me have a bout of nausea for an hour or two. Sometimes I can wake up with a sore throat.

Name of the game is, be as careful as the circumstances allow, always; no matter what the chemical is you should always have protection.

Bezaleel - 28-5-2013 at 04:19

Quote: Originally posted by Eddygp

Sorry for bumping this thread, but lately, when I platy French horn, I get greenish-grayish skin colorations on the finger that holds the bell of the instrument. Is this just some copper carbonate depositing or something else?

Yes. Copper is plentiful present in all types of horns. Copper also releases comparatively easily from metal, as salts. Up to the early 80s, I'd often have greenish stains on my fingers from the copper plated pant buttons they used in those days.

(Nickel is able to form some simirlarly coloured salts, but nickel forms salts far more difficult than copper.)

ElectroWin - 28-5-2013 at 08:21

copper salts cause hemolysis (your blood cells explode); in small doses, this will make you nauseous and dizzy. get out of the exposure area, and you should feel better after a few hours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemolysis

12AX7 - 28-5-2013 at 15:48

Hmm, I'd guess you have the misfortune of corrosive sweat.

Some people have the "anti-Midas touch", presumably acidity (and maybe sulfur compounds) in your sweat which is corroding the metal.

You might be able to change your diet, perhaps avoiding sulfurous or flatulent foods (there might be more specific advice elsewhere, search about it), and see a change.

I would suggest wearing gloves. Skin contact with metal salts can cause irritation and sensitization. Probably some thin fabric gloves would suffice, enough to wick away moisture and keep your skin out of direct contact. If they still turn green, try something thicker or less breathable. (I don't simply suggest plastic (latex or otherwise) gloves, since they would be very sweaty and rather uncomfortable, no good for playing an instrument.)

Tim

[Edited on 5-28-2013 by 12AX7]