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- Title
Case Study of Complaints on Drinking Water Quality: Relationship to Copper Content?
- Authors
Fernando Pizarro; Magdalena Araya; Marcela Vásquez; Gustavo Lagos; Manuel Olivares; Marco A. Méndez; Bárbara Leyton; Arturo Reyes; Victoria Letelier; Ricardo Uauy
- Abstract
Several families of Talca city, Chile complained to health authoritiesfor what they attributed to consumption of copper (Cu)-contaminateddrinking water. We assessed the situation 6-12 mo after the initiation ofcomplaints by characterizing the symptoms reported, the chemistry ofdrinking water, and the Cu concentration in stagnant drinking water. Aftercompleting a census, 1778 households accepted participation and were categorizedas follows: category 1, Cu plumbing for tap water and dwellersreporting health complaints (HC); category 2, Cu plumbing for tap waterand dwellers reporting no HC; category 3, plastic plumbing for tap waterand dwellers reporting no HC. Questionnaires recorded characteristics ofhouseholds and symptoms presented by each member of the family in thelast 3 mo. The Cu concentration in drinking water was measured in a subsampleof 80 homes with Cu pipes. In category 1, participants presentedsignificantly more abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or vomiting (gastrointestinal[GI] symptoms) in comparison to category 3 and to categories 2plus 3. The stagnant Cu concentrations measured in drinking water in allhouses studied were below the US Environmental Protection Agencyguideline value (<1.3 mg Cu/L). In summary, data obtained by interviewssuggested that individuals in some areas of Talca city were suffering moreGI symptoms potentially related to Cu excess, but measurement of Cu concentration in stagnant tap waters ruled out the association between Cuexposure and GI symptom reports at the time of this study. Thedose-response curves for GI symptoms and Cu exposure now availablewere crucial in the analyses of results.
- Subjects
CONTAMINATION of drinking water; COPPER; SYMPTOMS; ABDOMINAL pain; DIARRHEA
- Publication
Biological Trace Element Research, 2007, Vol 116, Issue 2, p131
- ISSN
0163-4984
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/BF02685926