Risk of high copper content in drinking water
Madsen, H.; Poulsen, L.; Grandjean, P.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 152(25): 1806-1809
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 2194331 Document Number: 361262
Copper occurs in small amounts in certain food items, but toxic exposures in Northern Europe have occurred only in connection with contaminated drinking water. Chronic exposure of small children can result in development of Indian Childhood Cirrhosis. This disease has recently been documented in Germany as a result of drinking water contaminated from corrosion of water pipes made of copper. Continued diarrhoea in small children can also be due to high copper exposure. Copper is not routinely determined in drinking water in Denmark. Further, no central registration is available concerning water with low pH or the types of water pipes used in houses.