AbstractUnder certain conditions high concentrations of lead or cadmium in drinking water have occurred as a result of contamination from piping and distribution systems Contamination has led to acute and chronic toxicity in humans Metal concentration is increased when the acidity and corrosivity of water increase due to cultural acidification Adverse health effects have occurred in sen sitive subsections of human populations exposed to lead contaminated acidic water Neutralization of the acidity can reduce these problems Acidic water may also dissolve copper from piping systems Cirrhosis of the liver has been reported in children in India (Indian Childhood Cirrhosis – ICC), commonly with fatal outcome High liver copper levels in ICC cases have been related to copper exposure from cooking utensils Some rare cases reported from Germany and Italy have been partly attributed to high concentrations of copper in drinking water and partly to a special sensitivity to copper toxicity Elevated aluminum concentrations may occur in acidified natural waters and as a result of the aluminum chemicals used in drinking water purification Use of water con taming high aluminum levels for dialysis may give rise to dialysis dementia and disorders of bone mineral metabolism A possible relationship between aluminum in drinking water and Alzheimer's disease requires further investigati
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