Copper toxicity
is related to heart disease, cancer, kidney damage and memory problems.
Copper toxicity in our water
and supplements may lead to:
[1]
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Liver damage
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Kidney damage and failure
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Neurologic damage
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Weakness
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Abdominal pain
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Lung damage
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Coma
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Death
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Dizziness
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Fatigue
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Headache
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Learning disabilities
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Memory lapses
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Dimished concentration
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Insomnia
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Seizure
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Delirium
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Stuttering
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Hyperactivity
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Joint pain
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Muscle pain
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High blood pressure
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Gingivitis
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Dermatitis
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Discoloration of skin and
hair
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Preeclampsia
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Postpartum psychosis
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Weight gain
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Elevated liver enzymes AST and
ALT
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- Copper and Cancer
Copper and Cancer: could copper be increasing your risk of cancer? TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH. Assess, Don't Guess.
- Copper Poisoning Sources
Copper Poisoning? Learn what the sources of copper poisoning toxicity come from.
How to test your body for Copper Toxicity:
At home urine Screening Heavy Metal Test for less than $16.
Click here to learn more.
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Elevated copper levels also increase the risk of cardiovascular
disease.
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Levels of
copper in the blood were higher among people who died from coronary heart disease than among those who did
not.
[2]
[3]
[4] Circulating copper oxidizes
LDL cholesterol.
[5]
[6]
[7] Low density lipoprotein (LDL)
oxidation is a crucial step in atherosclerosis.
[8]
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Urine copper
levels are higher in men with cardiovascular disease.
[9]
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Researchers
state “It is clear that oxidant
damage contributes to many of the diseases of aging, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
diseases, diabetes, diseases of inflammation, diseases of fibrosis, diseases of autoimmunity, and so on. It is
equally clear that both iron and copper can contribute to excess production of damaging reactive oxygen species
through Fenton chemistry.”
[10]
Most homes and businesses built prior to 1986 have metal water pipes. Most faucets and
valves are brass, a copper, lead and zinc alloy. Brass is considered to be lead free if it has less than 8%
lead in it. Lead is used to make the brass soft enough to make the stylish shaped faucets. Yet, that softness
allows the acidic water to leach the copper and lead into the water we drink and bathe
in.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
“approximately one in
eight Americans is exposed to potentially harmful microbes, pesticides, lead, or radioactive radon whenever
they drink a glass of tap water or take a shower.”
[11] . It’s estimated that up to 66% of
the toxic metals we have in our body comes from the steam from that relaxing hot shower or
bath.
“The primary sources of copper
in drinking water are corroding pipes and brass components of household piping systems. Signs that drinking
water may have elevated levels of copper include a metallic taste or blue to blue-green stains around sinks and
plumbing fixtures. The corrosion leads to the release of copper ions and the deposit of corrosion by-products on
the pipe wall. The solubility of these by-products ultimately determines the level of copper at our
taps.”
[12]
The EPA continues…
“Household plumbing materials are the most common source of lead and copper in home drinking
water. Corrosive water may cause metals in pipes or soldered joints to leach into your tap water. Your water’s
acidity or alkalinity (often measured as pH) greatly affects corrosion. Temperature and mineral content also
affect how corrosive it is. They are often used in pipes, solder, or plumbing fixtures. Lead can cause serious
damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. The age of plumbing materials — in
particular, copper pipes soldered with lead — is also important. Even in low amounts these metals can be
harmful”
[13]
- Copper and Cancer
Copper and Cancer: could copper be increasing your risk of cancer? TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH. Assess, Don't Guess.
- Copper Poisoning Sources
Copper Poisoning? Learn what the sources of copper poisoning toxicity come from.
Your water is corrosive if its pH is less than 7.0. Higher water
temperature, typical for bath and showers, dissolves the lead in the pipes and fixtures. The high water
temperature dilates the blood vessels in the skin and encourages the absorption of toxins through your
skin.
A chemical known as Chloramine (chlorine + ammonia) is popular
as a replacement for chlorine in drinking water distribution. Water in copper pipes treated with chloramine release higher amounts of lead than water not
treated with chloramine. Higher water temperatures also increase the
release of lead. Lead is also common in the solder connections found in residences and business built prior
to 1986. Copper concentrations are highest in water that is
acidic, pH less than 7.0
[14]
[15] Is you water
acidic? Find out. Test your water pH.
Another study found water standing in copper tubing for 24 hours
had a copper ion concentration of 2.4 mg/L.
[16] This copper level is 1.1 mg/L higher than recommended
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) by the EPA. Metal (copper) ions are what we absorb when we drink, bathe, swim
and soak in water. I’ve verified this in my own house!
Even if you have a bath or shower filter, it may not be
effective in removing copper. Most shower water filters remove chlorine but
may also increase the water copper levels. Most shower
filters have copper and zinc in the filter. Your acidic water, pH less than 7.0, will dissolve the copper and
zinc and increase the copper water concentrations in your bath and shower. Yes, copper and zinc can be
toxic!
Is your shower water filter
contributing to a copper toxicity? You can do a toxic metals test and copper check on your body and your shower
filter.
The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition states that high levels of copper exposure, through
overzealous fortification, supplementation, or drinking water exposure, may be
possible.
[17] If you have toxic amounts of copper you should not be
taking a vitamin supplement with copper! Go get your supplement
bottles and look at the labels right now.
Research shows that short periods of exposure to high levels of copper can cause
gastrointestinal disturbance, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Using water with
elevated levels of copper over many years may cause liver or kidney damage. The seriousness of these
effects can be expected to increase with increased copper levels or length of exposure. Children under one
year of age are more sensitive to copper than adults. Long-term exposure (more than 14 days) to copper in
drinking water which is much higher than 1,000 ug/I has been found to cause kidney and liver damage in
infants. Other persons who are highly susceptible to copper toxicity include people with liver damage or
Wilson's disease.
[18]
[19]
You can filter your drinking
and bathing water to significantly decrease your copper and lead exposure. You can also remove the toxic metals
from your body by doing oral chelation.
Water can be a significant source of copper intake depending upon the geographic
location, water character, water temperature, and the presence of copper pipes. At concentrations above 1 mg/l,
copper can stain laundry and plumbing fixtures. Copper can also cause a greenish/blue tint to blond
hair.
Copper is an essential element at lower levels but above 5 mg/l can cause
gastrointestinal disturbances or other acute toxic effects.
Long term low levels of copper from water and supplements may eventually create
Copper Toxicity. If you are spilling copper into your urine you may be getting too much copper. Order your
Heavy Metal Test via the link in the box below.
How to test your water for Copper
Toxicity:
How to treat your water for Copper Toxicity: Ugly Shower Filter,Distillation, Reverse Osmosis, or "Soda Ash" Feed[20]
- Copper and Cancer
Copper and Cancer: could copper be increasing your risk of cancer? TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH. Assess, Don't Guess.
- Copper Poisoning Sources
Copper Poisoning? Learn what the sources of copper poisoning toxicity come from.
This is not an all-encompassing metal toxicity list. There are other sources of
metal exposure not listed herein.
References:
[1] Medline Plus, U.S.
National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of
Health. Accessed September, 2008.
[2] Ford ES. Serum
copper concentration and coronary heart disease among US adults. Am J Epidemiol 2000;151:1182–8.
[3] Age- and dose-dependent effects of an eicosapentaenoic acid-rich oil on
cardiovascular risk factors in healthy male subjects. Cazzola R, Russo-Volpe S, Miles EA, Rees D, Banerjee T,
Roynette CE, Wells SJ, Goua M, Wahle KW, Calder PC, Cestaro B. Atherosclerosis . 2007
Jul;193(1):159-67.
[4] Protective effects of Peganum harmala L. extract, harmine and harmaline
against human low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Berrougui H, Isabelle M, Cloutier M, Hmamouchi M, Khalil A.,
J Pharm Pharmacol.
2006 Jul;58(7):967-74.
[5] Effects of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and curcumin on copper-induced
oxidation of human serum lipids. Ahuja KD, Kunde DA, Ball MJ, Geraghty DP. J Agric Food Chem.
2006 Aug 23;54(17):6436-9.
[6] Effect of bicarbonate on iron-mediated oxidation of low-density
lipoprotein. Arai H, Berlett BS, Chock PB, Stadtman ER., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jul 26;102(30):10472-7.
[7] Effect of homocysteine, folates, and cobalamin on endothelial cell- and
copper-induced LDL oxidation. Ronco AM, Garrido A, Llanos MN, Guerrero-Bosagna C, Tamayo D, Hirsch S.,
Lipids. 2005
Mar;40(3):259-64.
[8] HDL capacity to inhibit LDL oxidation in well-trained triathletes. Brites
F, Zago V, Verona J, Muzzio ML, Wikinski R, Schreier L., Life Sci. 2006 May
22;78(26):3074-81.
[9] Trace element status in Saudi patients with established atherosclerosis.
Alissa EM, Bahjri SM, Ahmed WH, Al-Ama N, Ferns GA., J Trace Elem Med Biol.
2006;20(2):105-14.
[10] Exp Biol Med
(Maywood). 2007
Feb;232(2):323-35.
[11] Jobson MD, Grimm SE 3rd, Banks K, Henley G., The effects of water
filtration systems on fluoride: Washington
, D.C. metropolitan area. ASDC J Dent Child. 2000
Sep-Oct;67(5):350-4, 302, 304.
[12] http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/cr/corr_res_copper.html
[13] http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/health.html
accessed07/27/08
[14] Chloramine Decay
& Metal Release in Copper Pipes at Varying Temperatures, pH and Chloramine Concentrations. Jeffrey
Nicholson, Dr. Marc Edwards, Charles E. Via Jr.
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State
University
[15] The Effect of
Water Chemistry on the Solubility and Properties of Freshly Precipitated Copper Solids, EPA.
[16] Sasahara T,
Kikuno R, Nakamura T, Sekiguchi T, Takahashi A, Satoh Y, Takayama Y, Okuda S, Inoue M., [Inactivation of
Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in copper tubing], Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 2006 Jul;80(4):377-82.
[17] Cockell KA,
Bertinato J, L'Abbé MR., Regulatory frameworks for copper considering chronic exposures of the
population. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008 Sep;88(3):863S-6S.
[18] http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/cr/corr_res_copper.html
[19] http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/copper.htm
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