Is copper absorbed from house plumbing?

"Halterb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

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

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Halterb said:

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

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 20:36:51 -0500, "Piezo Guru" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

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.