title: Gastrointestinal upsets associated with ingestion of copper-contaminated water.
abstract: During 1992 and 1993 the Wisconsin Division of Health investigated five cases in which copper-contaminated drinking water was suspected of causing gastrointestinal upsets. Each of these case studies was conducted after our office was notified of high copper levels in drinking water or notified of unexplained illnesses. Our findings suggest that drinking water that contains copper at levels above the federal action limit of 1.3 mg/l may be a relatively common cause of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. These symptoms occurred most frequently in infants and young children and among resident of newly constructed or renovated homes.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, Madison, WI 53703-3044, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knobeloch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziarnik
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Theis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Proctor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014881:Water Supply; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper