Abstract

Copper present in drinking water originates from natural and anthropogenic (mainly copper plumbing pipes) sources. In spite of the long life of copper plumbing pipes, estimated to be 60 years or more, copper is liberated to drinking water as a result of electrochemical and thermodynamic processes. A model has been created in order to estimate the population exposure to copper contained in drinking water. This exposure depends on several variables such as the physicochemical characteristics of the water, the length and diameter of the pipe involved, the stagnation period of the water during the day and night, and the age of the pipes. Measurement of these variables was carried out in 250 homes in the Santiago Metropolitan Area. The 250 homes are a sub-sample of a larger sample surveyed in Santiago to determine water consumption habits. The model yields the copper consumption distribution for the Santiago area, including average, maximum, and minimum distributions. The distributions include the estimation of maximum and minimum exposure of the population, which could be relevant from the point of view of deficiency (copper is an essential element) and/or toxicity. Copper present in drinking water originates from natural and anthropogenic (mainly copper plumbing pipes) sources. In spite of the long life of copper plumbing pipes, estimated to be 60 years or more, copper is liberated to drinking water as a result of electrochemical and thermodynamic processes. A model has been created in order to estimate the population exposure to copper contained in drinking water. This exposure depends on several variables such as the physicochemical characteristics of the water, the length and diameter of the pipe involved, the stagnation period of the water during the day and night, and the age of the pipes. Measurement of these variables was carried out in 250 homes in the Santiago Metropolitan Area. The 250 homes are a sub-sample of a larger sample surveyed in Santiago to determine water consumption habits. The model yields the copper consumption distribution for the Santiago area, including average, maximum, and minimum distributions. The distributions include the estimation of maximum and minimum exposure of the population, which could be relevant from the point of view of deficiency (copper is an essential element) and/or toxicity.