Copper is a natural element that is present in the environment. It has a red color and can be found in natural rock, dirt, water sources and even in the air. People use copper for various requirements and it is used to make electrical conduits, coins
The Safe Level of Copper
The body does have a natural way of maintaining the correct balance of copper in our system. But this mechanism is still not developed enough in children and thus they are exposed to excess copper and its toxicity. Patients of Wilson’s disease have the same
The water we drink is one of the main sources that copper
Dangers of Copper Plumbing
One of the ways that excess copper can enter our system is through
old copper plumbing. The copper in the pipes can slowly dissolve and enter the
water stream and enter an unsuspecting person’s body through their drinking or
cooking water. The more time the water stays motionless in copper pipes, the
more chance it has of dissolving. The surprising thing is in homes with older
copper pipes this issue is less compared to houses with newer copper pipes. This
is because a copper oxide coating can form inside pipes overtime, insulating
the water from the copper in the pipes.
But if you house has new copper pipes it is advised that if the water in the
pipes have not been used for more than 6 hours, for example during the night,
the water from the pipes should be cleared out before using it for either
drinking or cooking.
It is also known that hot water dissolves copper
faster than cold water. So it is highly advised that you do not use hot water
coming from copper pipes for drinking and cooking. If you want hot water you
will need to take cold water and heat it and it is imperative that you do not
use such hot water when making baby food, since babies are much more
susceptible to copper toxicity.
If you
are concerned about copper level in your drinking water, you can get it tested
and see if it exceeds that 1,300
micrograms per liter or 1,300 parts per billion level. Also it is advisable to
not to use copper plumbing when building a house in order to lower risks.
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