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May 27, 2012
'New homes' turn Swedes' hair green
Published: 17 Dec 11 11:08 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/37994/20111217/
When several formerly blonde inhabitants of Anderslöv in southern Sweden suddenly had green hair, suspicion was immediately directed towards the municipal drinking water.
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Tests of the initial suspect, the drinking water, were taken from several homes in the area. Copper levels were tested, as the metal is known to dye hair green.
When the tests showed normal copper levels in the water delivered to houses, engineers were confounded.
However, left overnight, the copper suddenly skyrocketed to five or ten times the normal amount.
Hot water left overnight peeled copper from the pipes and water heaters, and into the water.
The problems were most severe in new houses, where pipes lacked coatings.
"The samples we took from older houses have lower copper levels," said environmental engineer Johan Pettersson, to local newspaper Skånskan.
Inhabitants in the area who wish to avoid an involuntary dye must now wash their hair in cold water.
Or move to an older house.
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Swedish word of the day
lång
adjective
Lång means long, tall and can be used for height, distance or time.
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First it's the English rather than quotation style. Secondly " can be a dead-key on many Swedish keyboards because of ä and ö; typing them on old style keyboards (or even new ones like mine from England) requires typing " in dead key mode followed imediately by a or o as appropriate. Whereas ' is a single key.
When I learned Swedish it seemed as Swedes shook a pepper pot over the page, there were punctuation marks all over the page. Many more ! than is usual in English. It was as obvious as green hair.
Love that explanation...wish I could understand it, hohoh0 :-)
I feel that way about much of the Swedlish that appears here on The Local.
Thank you and I agree with you. They could have used this " " punctuation instead. And even with the Swedish keyboards, it's not so hard to spot them and it's not an excuse to use this ' just because it's easier.
Well I'd go with what is easier every time. But as an Englishman I would prefer to use the English convention which is ' '. (The exact opposite of American convention.)
But which ever way I wouldn't want green hair.
Hide behind a BIG shamrock tree and be saved! LOL
Oooopsie, I used " instead of ' ;)
perhaps it can be sold to the blue rinse brigade (old white haired grannies)