The acute toxicity of iron and copper: Biomolecule oxidation and oxidative damage in rat liver

► Liver oxidative damage is produced by higher than normal Fe and Cu liver contents. ► Metal concentration in liver is linearly related to metal intakes. ► Increased liver Fe and Cu contents similarly produced increased oxidative damage. ► This damage is simultaneous and generated for a common biochemical mechanism. ► Free radical process operate by HO
- and RO
- generated from H2O2 and ROOH scission.