Copper water pipes increase growth of some cancers

Wednesday, April 16, 2014 by: D Holt
Tags: copper pipes, cancer risk, tap water

(NaturalNews) A study carried out by Duke University in North Carolina has found that high levels of copper are linked to an increase in melanoma and breast, lung and thyroid cancer. While the research stopped short of claiming that excess copper causes cancer, the scientists involved stated that copper causes the cancer to "breathe," which increases the rate of growth.

High copper levels in the body are often associated with diets excessively high in green vegetables and seafood, and with Wilson disease, a hereditary disease that causes copper to build up in bodily tissue.

Experiments in mice revealed that drinking water containing the maximum permitted level of copper provided enough copper to encourage the growth of tumors caused by mutation of the cancer-causing gene BRAF. The BRAF gene is involved in regulating cell division, and if it mutates it causes excessive cell proliferation and survival; it may also lead to cells resistant to apoptosis, where cells fail to die off as they are programmed to.

Professor Christopher Counter stated "BRAF-positive cancers like melanoma almost hunger for copper." Professor Counter and his colleagues found that by blocking the uptake of copper they could stop the development of tumors which contained the BRAF mutation. This was found to still be the case for tumors that had not responded to treatment with drugs which targeted the BRAF mutation.

A clinical trail has been approved to test copper-reducing drugs in the treatment of melanoma. Lead research scientist Dr. Donita Brady said, "Oral drugs used to lower copper levels in Wilson disease could be repurposed to treat BRAF-driven cancers like melanoma - or perhaps even others like thyroid or lung cancer."

Catalyst for cancer

Whilst various cancers are known to be caused by diet and environmental factors, the findings of this study are very important. It proves that the growth of some types of cancers is dependent on the presence of a metal used in the transportation of drinking water to much of the civilized world. Copper has not been proven to cause cancer by itself, but it is an important factor in the rate of growth of BRAF-positive cancers.

There is a continued threat of gene mutations from fallout from nuclear power accidents such as at Fukishima, carcinogenic food additives, industrial waste and chemical pollutants in water supplies. The fact that there is also a catalyst in our drinking water that increases the rate of cancer growth makes for further unpleasant reading. Drinking tap water is a risk in many areas not only from copper leaching into supplies but also from the copious amounts of fluoride additives; both metals are associated with brain disease.

Whilst the development and use of drugs to reduce copper in the body is useful, it is treating a symptom rather than the cause. Many years ago, lead pipes were removed from use due to the findings of research proving the toxicity of lead. Is it now time for the removal of copper pipes?

Further information and reading:

http://www.holistichelp.net

http://www.naturalcancerreports.com

http://www.biooncology.com

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
D Holt has written over 200 articles in the field of alternative health and is currently involved in research in the UK into the mechanisms involved in healing due to meditation, hypnosis and spiritual healers and techniques. Previous work has included investigations into effects of meditation on addiction, the effects of sulfites on the digestive system and the use of tartrazine and other additives in the restaurant industry. new blog is now available at http://tinyurl.com/sacredmeditation or follow on twitter @sacredmeditate