Biomaterial Database

Development of the 'Water Story': some recent Canadian studies. 1980

D Hewitt, and L C Neri

Because of excessive reliance on the method of ecological correlation, in which the units of study are entire communities, there have been few agreed conclusions concerning the relation between mineral quality of water and health. However, in recent years there have been attempts to relate water exposure to health outcome in statistical series of individual subjects. Studies in Kitchener, Ontario and Regina, Saskatchewan found that households having domestic water softeners experience lower death rates than others. Kitchener data clearly implied an association between copper piping and mortality rate but this was not confirmed in Regina. Comparison of myocardial tissue between residents of soft and hard water areas has confirmed that insufficient magnesium intake is a likely cause of higher mortality in soft water areas. Within the 'normal' range of myocardial magnesium concentration the risk of IHD death appears to vary by at least one and possibility two orders of magnitude.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D009202	Cardiomyopathies	A group of diseases in which the dominant feature is the involvement of the CARDIAC MUSCLE itself. Cardiomyopathies are classified according to their predominant pathophysiological features (DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY; HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY; RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY) or their etiological/pathological factors (CARDIOMYOPATHY, ALCOHOLIC; ENDOCARDIAL FIBROELASTOSIS).	Myocardial Disease,Myocardial Diseases,Myocardial Diseases, Primary,Myocardial Diseases, Secondary,Myocardiopathies,Primary Myocardial Disease,Cardiomyopathies, Primary,Cardiomyopathies, Secondary,Primary Myocardial Diseases,Secondary Myocardial Diseases,Cardiomyopathy,Cardiomyopathy, Primary,Cardiomyopathy, Secondary,Disease, Myocardial,Disease, Primary Myocardial,Disease, Secondary Myocardial,Diseases, Myocardial,Diseases, Primary Myocardial,Diseases, Secondary Myocardial,Myocardial Disease, Primary,Myocardial Disease, Secondary,Myocardiopathy,Primary Cardiomyopathies,Primary Cardiomyopathy,Secondary Cardiomyopathies,Secondary Cardiomyopathy,Secondary Myocardial Disease
D009206	Myocardium	The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow.	Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D002170	Canada	The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D002318	Cardiovascular Diseases	Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM.	Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D003327	Coronary Disease	An imbalance between myocardial functional requirements and the capacity of the CORONARY VESSELS to supply sufficient blood flow. It is a form of MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA (insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle) caused by a decreased capacity of the coronary vessels.	Coronary Heart Disease,Coronary Diseases,Coronary Heart Diseases,Disease, Coronary,Disease, Coronary Heart,Diseases, Coronary,Diseases, Coronary Heart,Heart Disease, Coronary,Heart Diseases, Coronary
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014880	Water Softening	Processes by which minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and certain metal cations are removed from hard water, making it more compatible with soap and safer on appliances and plumbing.	Softening, Water
D014881	Water Supply	Means or process of supplying water (as for a community) usually including reservoirs, tunnels, and pipelines and often the watershed from which the water is ultimately drawn. (Webster, 3d ed)	Supplies, Water,Supply, Water,Water Supplies