Predicted intake of trace elements and minerals via household drinking water by 6-year-old children from Krakow (Poland). Part 4: Copper

Henryk Barton

The aim of current, subsequent study was to evaluate the exposure of the children population to copper (Cu) from household drinking water (DW). The DW samples were collected within 1997-2004 in ca. 650 households and pre-schools by a double sampling method (morning - W1, evening - W2). The study group comprised ca. 300 5-7 years old children living in Krakow (urban, peripheral) and rural areas in southern Poland. The Cu concentrations were estimated by the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. There was no significant relation of sampling period to Cu concentrations, while statistically significant differences were found between urban and non-urban (rural, peripheral) sites and between morning and evening samples. Geometric means of Cu concentrations in evening DW (95% confidence interval, in μg l<-1/sup>) were 8 (1-110), 20 (1-274) and 12 (0-364) in urban, peripheral and rural sites, respectively. DW contamination after overnight standing was comparable in all sites (average ca. 20 μg Cu l<-1/sup>). The adopted threshold of 100 μg Cu l<-1/sup> was exceeded in evening DW by 3.6 % and 15% in urban and non-urban households, respectively. The exceedance of EC limit (2 mg l<-1/sup>) was not significant. The predicted contributions of evening DW to Cu intake by children were as site's means 18-37 μg day<-1/sup> or 0.8-1.6 μg kg b.wt.<-1/sup> day<-1/sup>, but were two-three fold higher for morning DW. Polish RDA (1 mg Cu day<-1/sup>) was exceeded for morning(evening) DW in 3.7(0.2) % of children, at mean intake 159(118) % of RDA. The observed copper levels and predicted intakes can be considered low and should not raise a nutritional or toxicological concern of age group studied. Nevertheless, due to the overnight contamination, the former suggestion that stagnant portion of drinking water should be discarded, should remain valid.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Henryk Barton. Predicted intake of trace elements and minerals via household drinking water by 6-year-old children from Krakow (Poland). Part 4: Copper. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2009, 26 (07), pp.988-1001. ⟨10.1080/02652030902839723⟩. ⟨hal-00573873⟩