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Medical Forum / General / Nutrition / February 2005Is copper absorbed from house plumbing?
I wondered if people whose homes have copper water pipes absorb any of this copper, and then if that could effectively cause a zinc deficiency. Any thoughts? Tnx >I wondered if people whose homes have copper water pipes absorb any of this > copper, and then if that could effectively cause a zinc deficiency. Any > thoughts? > > Tnx The concentration of copper leaching into drinking water from copper pipes is trivial, unless the water is acidic. In the U.S., all water with high copper concentrations is supposed to be reported to the EPA, but it's not certain that would happen, of course. See: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309069394/html/138.html#pagetop The risk is low, but not zero. Lar If the water pipes are in copper, yes, there is a risk. Best is to let water flow a couple of seconds before taking drink water. Vivian ------------------------------ www.soundclick.com/Vivien Songs: On Healing http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=1722174&q=Lo The Ear - this one is of the very important role of nutrition: http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=1749324&q=Lo The Good Time - this one is about rest, getting goot time, habits... http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=1678300&q=Lo > I wondered if people whose homes have copper water pipes absorb any of this > copper, and then if that could effectively cause a zinc deficiency. Any > thoughts? > > Tnx >I wondered if people whose homes have copper water pipes absorb any of this >copper, and then if that could effectively cause a zinc deficiency. Any >thoughts? Only if you drink heated water from your heater. Measured copper content once in analytical chemistry lab. In cold tap water with quite acid water the color was very faint, but existant. Concentration was in range of needed as supplementation as trace element, in lower end of concentration range- On the other hand, in water from heater, the color was like ink and was not measurable until diluted about 1 million times :-) Absorption coefficient was about 25 (around solid dark), while diluted one million time around 0.2-0.5 :-) That is still quite a big concentration. The reagent is extremely sensitive and detect far below lower limit of being a trace element. Can¨'t remember which since this was done in 1975. It depends on how "dry" the water is. If you have hard water minerals are deposited on the pipes and the copper and/or solder lead is nevere absorbed. If you used distilled water it would absorb copper, lead, tin, any metals it comes into contact with eventually depleting the walls of the pipes. > >I wondered if people whose homes have copper water pipes absorb any of this > >copper, and then if that could effectively cause a zinc deficiency. Any [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > lower limit of being a trace element. Can?'t remember which since this > was done in 1975. >It depends on how "dry" the water is. If you have hard water minerals are >deposited on the pipes and the copper and/or solder lead is nevere absorbed. > >If you used distilled water it would absorb copper, lead, tin, any metals it >comes into contact with eventually depleting the walls of the pipes. We don't make distilled water for drinking purposes in our water system in Oslo. But another problem is low pH due to little chalk in surroundings of Maridalsvannet (source of most of water in Oslo) and still problems with acid rain from pollution from Europe, like sulphur dioxide from coal burning power plants, but also salpeter acid from NOx deposits, from mainly gasoline burning in cars, NOx production in agriculture etc., That increase release speed. The other problem is the popularity of using copper pipes for water, while often using steel in heaters. The mix may combined with electricity for the heating of the copper wires giving heat, starts a process that release both copper and iron into water, together with other metals. Fortunately, cadmium at least is now completely banned used for water supply lines. In fact, copper intake is for many people on the lower edge of what is healthy daily doses, lower than RDA, and for some so low that fructose intake may stop intake completely (like sugar intake) and being lethal. |
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