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'New homes' turn Swedes' hair green

Published: 17 Dec 11 11:08 CET | Print version
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.

The culprit, however, turned out to be new homes combined with hot showers, reported local newspaper Skånskan.

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.

TT/Clara Guibourg (news@thelocal.se)

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11:57 December 17, 2011 by spo10
The Local seems to be very fond of this ' punctuation.
13:06 December 17, 2011 by Opinionfool
@spo10

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.
13:14 December 17, 2011 by Keith #5083
"Opinionfool

Love that explanation...wish I could understand it, hohoh0 :-)
13:23 December 17, 2011 by Opinionfool
@Keith...

I feel that way about much of the Swedlish that appears here on The Local.
17:03 December 17, 2011 by spo10
@Opinionfool

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.
20:38 December 17, 2011 by Opinionfool
@spo10

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.
03:20 December 18, 2011 by Gamla Hälsingebock
The wee folk and leprechauns have arrived with the "Travellers", much mischief is afoot.

Hide behind a BIG shamrock tree and be saved! LOL
03:52 December 18, 2011 by swenrika
So how long before the pipes are "completely peeled" ? lol..

Oooopsie, I used " instead of ' ;)
11:34 December 18, 2011 by Mib
I heard the Green Party is on the way up! " is this their plan to convert us all and make Green cool again.
10:07 December 23, 2011 by Da Goat
swenrika has hit the right point! it is not the copper it is what is peeling it that is the worry to get enough copper to colour hair means the water is copper poisonous and the pipes will very shortly leak due to excessive corrosion, I say neutralise the acidic water first!

perhaps it can be sold to the blue rinse brigade (old white haired grannies)
22:53 September 24, 2012 by Taylorinmv
Are they sure it's the copper pipes? Anyone that has spent a summer at the community swimming pool can tell you that the chlorine in the swimming pool water will turn a blonde's hair green.
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