GASTROINTESTINAL UPSETS ASSOCIATED WITH INGESTION OF COPPER-CONTAMINATED WATER

During 1992 and 1993 the Wisconsin Division of Health investigated fiv e cases in which copper-contaminated drinking water was suspected of c ausing gastrointestinal upsets. Each of these case studies was conduct ed after our office was notified of high copper levels in drinking wat er or notified of unexplained illnesses. Our findings suggest that dri nking water that contains copper at levels above the federal action li mit of 1.3 mg/l may be a relatively common cause of diarrhea, abdomina l cramps, and nausea. These symptoms occurred most frequently in infan ts and young children and among residents of newly constructed or reno vated homes.