If a woman has managed to become pregnant with a high copper level, her baby could be in danger. Excessive copper in the mother can adversely affect the baby's brain development. Subtle birth defects may occur. These children also tend to suffer from learning disabilities. The trend started in the 1960s when birth control pills became widely used.
Copper is a primary component of the Pill since copper helps control the ovulation cycle.
Most IUDs are made of copper, too. Today, the daughters of these mothers are dutifully taking their birth control pills every morning, thus magnifying the problem. Until plastic pipes became cost effective, builders routinely put copper pipes in homes and offices. Copper can easily leach into the drinking water as the pipes age. If you spend any significant amount of time in a swimming pool, the water may be the cause of your copper toxicity.