When F. W. was 63 years old she was seen by Dr. Elliott for a chronic vaginal discharge that had persisted for five years. She had been previously evaluated by several healthcare practitioners for this problem. Although her gynecologist had been unable to find evidence of a yeast or bacterial infection, the patient was nevertheless placed on a variety of antibiotics, which seemed to exacerbate the problem.
During the interview, it was discovered that the patient’s symptoms seemed to improve when shetraveled. Shewentontodisclosethata rash she had all over her body also improved while she was away from home. She concluded that her symptoms were probably related to stress, although there were no obvious new stressors in her life that could have accounted for this peculiar reaction.
When questioned about events in her life that took place around the time of onset of her symptoms, she revealed that she had moved into anew home. Dr. Elliott suspected that the source of the patient’s problem could be the bath water, since water was the only substance in contact with her vagina.
A water sample was sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results showed extremely high copper levels. Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that many water samples from the same part of town were also showing high copper levels. Apparently, the carbon dioxide in the water created enough of an acidic environment to dissolve the copper in the water supply piping.
The patient decided to install a whole-house water filtration system that could be customized to remove carbon dioxide in the household water.
system, consult the National Tap Water Quality Database.3
Remember, however, that water leaving the treatment plant may be further contaminated by the time it reaches your tap. During its journey, treated water can pick up lead from solder or old pipes and copper from pipes. Pipes made of PVC, the most common type of new piping, release chlorinated compounds and other chemicals into the water. Pipes that have breaks can suck in mud and silt and are prone to bacterial contamination.
Municipally treated water is usually low in biological contaminants because of chlorination, but it is not well-screened for industrial and hazardous waste. The chlorine with which almost all municipal water has been treated often reacts with naturally occurring organic compounds, creating potentially harmful tri — halomethanes. Water experts in your area will know the range of contaminants found in your municipal system and the best strategies for eliminating them.
Private well-water quality is not governed by EPA regulations, but primary and secondary standards for public systems are useful guidelines for the treatment of water in private wells. EPA recommends testing private water supplies annually for nitrates, coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH levels to detect contamination problems early. Your local water specialist should be able to make general recommendations for well-testing in your area.
Before consumption begins on a private water well, samples should be submitted for
Within a few days after installation, her rash and vaginitis disappeared. Because of evidence of excess copper stored in her body, she underwent a program of vitamin and mineral supplementation and heavy metal chelation. She is currently doing well and is without complaints. In a follow-up visit, she stated that the greenish ring that had been present on the bathroom fixtures also had disappeared.
Discussion
Copper is essential to human life, but in high doses can cause anemia, rashes, liver and kidney damage, and gastrointestinal irritation. While the need for filtering the household drinking water may be obvious, this case study illustrates that bath water may be an unrecognized source of toxic exposure.
Because the skin is a large surface area, it allows for significant absorption of substances into the body from bath water. We do not suggest that you avoid tub bathing, which can be both pleasurable and therapeutic. Instead, we recommend that your water be filtered at the point of entry into the house. Filtration systems are most effective when they are customized to fit both the homeowner’s personal needs and the local water conditions. These conditions can vary greatly from one location to another. Whether or not you decide to install a whole-house water filtration system, we recommend that you have your water tested periodically.
a comprehensive laboratory test by an EPA — approved laboratory. In addition to determining what is in the well water, the test will help establish a baseline for future changes in water quality. Every well should be tested individually as even adjacent wells may have highly variable water chemistry because of different depths or geological variance of the aquifer.
