Do you drink bottled water hoping to avoid common contaminants found in tap water? Do you think bottled water is healthier for you?
Concerned about the quality of tap water some consumers turn to bottled water hoping to find a guarantee of safety and quality.
But the reality is very different from this expectation. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested ten brands of bottled waters purchased off the shelf of big box retailers. The results show that all ten brands contained some chemical contaminants.
Four chemicals found in bottled water are in a group of disinfection byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs) – chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, and chlorodibromomethane.
These chemicals, along with haloacetic acids, are linked to increased risks of cancer. Exposure may be also associated with miscarriages or reduced birth weight, rectal and colon cancers, kidney and spleen disorders, and immune system problems.
Various trihalomethanes were detected in four brands of bottled water, including Sam’s Choice and Acadia, at two to three times greater levels than the bottled water industry’s voluntary standard of 10 ppb.
Chloroform was found in four brands with up to 31 ppb (parts per billion) concentration of chloroform. The safety standards for oral ingestion are 10 ppb. Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. National Toxicology Panel (NTP) state that chloroform is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”
Bromodichloromethane was detected in four brands at concentrations between 0.6 and 13 ppb. EPA set a health-based goal for this cancer-causing chemical at zero. EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) classifies bromodichloromethane as a “probable human carcinogen.”
Haloacetic acids, dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid, were both observed at 2 ppb concentration. Haloacetic acids are genotoxic and carcinogenic. Dichloroacetic acid is likely to be “a carcinogen in humans.”
Fluoride was found in five brands at concentrations between 0.15 and 1.07 ppm. Although these are within the legal limits, emerging science suggests that legal limits may not sufficiently protect health, especially for infants and others with compromised immune systems.
Acetaldehyde was also detected in four bottled water brands, in the range of 0.6 – 36 ppb. Inhaled acetaldehyde poses a risk for genetic mutations and cancer, and it is classified as “a probable human carcinogen.”
Hexane, another industrial chemical for which no drinking water standards have been established, was found in four brands. Hexane has been associated with potential health impacts including developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity
Toluene was detected in four brands. Toluene is a petroleum-derived industrial chemical and a solvent for paints, paint thinners, silicone sealants, rubber, printing ink, adhesives (glues), lacquers, leather tanners, and disinfectants. The presence of toluene in drinking water presents a significant public health risk. Health impacts associated with toluene include cardiovascular or blood toxicity, developmental toxicity, gastrointestinal or liver toxicity, immunotoxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin sensitivity.
How Do Plastic Chemicals Get in Bottled Water?
From the moment of production at the manufacturing plant until the time of consumption, bottled water is exposed to a wide variety of plastic chemicals that leach from the packaging.
The main type of packaging for bottled water is polyethylene terephthalate or PET, which is polymer and identified by recycling code 1. Plastic packaging for bottled water also contains:
A variety of additives
Catalyst chemicals that are involved in the creation of plastic
Chemicals that help with physical stability and resistance to damage
Sunscreen chemicals that protect the bottle from discoloration caused by exposure to UV light
Odor-scavenger substances that eliminate the smells associated with chemicals leaching from plastic
The FDA Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications lists 23 different chemical products or mixes that may be legally added to PET plastics for bottled water packaging.
With long-term storage, these chemicals can potentially leach from the plastic into the bottled water itself. When exposed to high temperatures the leeching process is accelerated and can cause even more chemicals to leach into the water.
In summary, chemical contamination was found in all bottled waters tested. The quality of the samples varied significantly, with some bottled waters exposing consumers to unexpectedly high pollution load. Weak FDA regulations are unable to ensure bottled water quality that consumers expect.
What Can I Do to Reduce My Exposure to Plastic Chemicals?
Do not consume bottled water that has been stored in any type of plastic container. Use a stainless steel water container and fill it with filtered tap water. Take it with you throughout your day. You can usually refill it for free at convenience stores and fast food establishments. If you must buy bottled water, buy only water that is stored in glass containers.
You can view all of the test results at:
http://www.ewg.org/research/bottled-water-quality-investigation/all-test-results
http://www.ewg.org/research/bottled-water-quality-investigation/test-results-chemicals-bottled-water/