Bottled Water Brands Contain Unregulated Harmful Chemicals, Study Finds
A recent study has uncovered a concerning truth: dozens of potentially dangerous, unregulated chemicals are lurking in some of the most popular bottled water brands. This revelation is particularly alarming, as it raises questions about the safety of a product many consider a healthier alternative to tap water.
The study, published in Science Direct, analyzed 64 regulated and unregulated disinfection by-products (DBPs) in 10 well-known bottled water brands. Shockingly, all the tested brands contained DBPs, which are formed during the water disinfection process.
But here's the twist: despite these findings, bottled water may not be all bad. Professor Susan Richardson, a study author from the University of South Carolina, revealed that the bottled waters tested had lower DBP levels than tap water. This is a significant discovery, as it highlights a potential advantage of bottled water over its tap counterpart.
The Importance of Water Disinfection
Disinfecting drinking water is crucial to prevent the spread of diseases like cholera and typhoid. However, this process can lead to the formation of DBPs, which are known to pose health risks. Numerous studies have linked DBPs to bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, miscarriage, and birth defects.
Unveiling the Brands
The study intentionally kept the brands anonymous, but it did reveal that 'grocery' and 'name' brands had higher DBP counts than 'designer' brands. Interestingly, spring water brands generally showed lower overall DBP levels compared to those labeled as purified.
Two 'grocery' brands, which used purified tap water, had significantly higher cytotoxicity levels, with DBP levels 43 and 83 times higher than the average bottled water. This is a cause for concern, as it indicates that the purification process may not be entirely effective in removing all harmful DBPs.
The Complex Contamination Story
Bottled water can become contaminated with DBPs in various ways. Many brands use further purified tap water, but this process doesn't eliminate all DBPs. Some bottled waters are treated with ozone, which can also form DBPs. Even spring water isn't immune, as it can be infiltrated by surface waters contaminated with DBPs.
Among the DBPs found, brominated DBPs, especially dibromoacetonitrile, are particularly worrying. Dibromoacetonitrile is a known carcinogen and is unregulated, although its levels in bottled water are similar to those in tap water. Alongside this, several other unregulated DBPs were discovered in bottled water for the first time, including chloroacetonitrile and dichloroacetamide.
Regulatory Gaps and Consumer Concerns
The FDA regulates some DBPs in bottled water, such as bromate, chlorite, and haloacetic acids, but many others remain unregulated. The study's unregulated DBPs are those that the EPA does not regulate in drinking water, and consequently, they are also not regulated in bottled water.
Bottled waters generally have fewer DBPs than tap water, with an average of 3 types detected compared to 37 in tap water. However, this doesn't mean bottled water is the healthier choice. Experts have differing opinions on this matter.
Expert Opinions and Controversies
Sherri Mason, director of Project NePTWNE at Gannon University, finds it intriguing that DBPs are lower in bottled water but emphasizes that this is what companies promote. She highlights the presence of unexpected toxicants in bottled water, such as benzene and microplastics, which are not typically tested for.
Natalie Exum, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was not surprised by the lower DBP levels in bottled water, as chemical disinfectants are not required in bottled water, unlike tap water. She believes that unregulated DBPs are a significant concern due to their toxicological profile, and advocates for expanded regulation.
Vasilis Vasiliou, a professor at Yale School of Public Health, finds the discovery of unregulated DBPs in bottled water concerning, especially as these compounds are not routinely monitored. He points out that finding certain by-products in UV-treated water suggests cross-contamination or incomplete processing, challenging the notion of 'purity' in bottled water.
Despite the findings, Professor Richardson advises against switching from tap to bottled water unless there's a known major contamination issue with tap water. She raises environmental and cost concerns associated with bottled water.
And this is the part that sparks debate: is bottled water really a safer choice? With varying expert opinions and ongoing research, the answer remains unclear. What do you think? Are the potential benefits of lower DBP levels in bottled water enough to outweigh the environmental and cost concerns? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
