OpeningPandorasBox said:
If you value your health I would throw that piece away asap. Copper is about the most dangerous pipe building material around. Copper releases toxins that can and have killed people. Stick with glass, stainless, and brass only and in that order if you want to be safe.
Dont mean to rain on your parade but dont want to lose a nexus member either.
You recommend brass – are you aware that brass is an alloy of copper and zinc?
Also, if you’re going to make extreme claims, you should back them up with verifiable facts. Misinformation such as yours is never a good thing.
Copper is actually one of the safest, purest materials commonly used for the conveyance of water. In many communities around the world, building codes require it’s use for potable water supplies.
Copper is an element, not an alloy. Metallic copper contains only Cu. No other elements, no toxins.
In non-acidic environments, copper is non-reactive. In acidic environments, copper will react and may produce toxic salts that are harmful if swallowed in sufficient quantity. (Potentially fatal if
several grams are consumed.)
Wikipedia said:
Copper is essential in all plants and animals. The human body normally contains copper at a level of about 1.4 to 2.1 mg for each kg of body weight. Copper is distributed widely in the body and occurs in liver, muscle and bone.
A typical multivitamin contains 2mg of copper as a dietary supplement.
At very high temperatures, copper may react to produce copper oxides, which may be harmful if ingested in sufficient quantity. Copper has a melting point of 1984.32 °F and a boiling point of 4643 °F.
So unless the copper parts of your device get so hot that they glow red, no oxides will be produced and the device is as safe as any other.