Determination of the extent of excessive copper concentrations in the tap-water of households with copper pipes and an assessment of possible health hazards for infants.
During the past 20 years there has been much discussion about copper in connection with a form of Early Childhood Liver Cirrhosis (ECLC) known as Non Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (NICC). NICC is similar to Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (ICC) which occurs in India, and has already been known for many years. ICC is attributed to the excessive intake of copper derived from milk or water stored in copper and brass vessels. To determine precisely a possible connection between the amount of copper in tap-water and the risk of early childhood liver disease, an attempt was first made, through an epidemiological survey, to determine the extent of excessive concentrations of copper in the tap-water of households with copper pipes. To achieve this, water samples from 956 households were tested for copper, and the state of health of the infants in these households was documented. Infants who had been fed using water with a copper concentration of 0.8 mg/l or more received a paediatric examination with a blood check so as to rule out any possibility of liver damage. A copper level greater than 0.8 mg/l was found in only 2% of the households examined. Eight infants were examined by a paediatrician and received blood checks. (These infants had either been breast-fed up until their 12th week or had received more than 200 ml of tap water per day during their first 12 months). None of the infants examined showed any signs of liver malfunction. From the results of the study, no indication of a hazard due to copper pipes connected to public water supplies could be found.
Dassel de Vergara
J
J
Medical Institute for General Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Göttingen, Windausweg 2, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany. bzietz@gwdg.de
Zietz
B
B
Schneider
H B
HB
Dunkelberg
H
H
D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D003300:Copper