Do You Know What Bottled Water Has in It?

Bottled drinking water is pure, right? Not necessarily.The FDA allows set levels of the following chemical
Bottled water can be less pure than municipal tapcontaminants in all bottled water. Amounts vary, but
water in some parts of the United States. In fact,some are shocking, such as Barium. FDA regulations
bottled water can actually be municipal tap water.permit up to 2.0 milligrams per liter of barium. That is
Two examples are Coca Cola's Dasani brand andnearly the same as natural fluorides, even though
Pepsi Cola's Aquafina brand.barium is a toxic metallic element. Cyanide, another
What is bottled water?poison, is permitted in bottled water. See 21 CFR
"Description. Bottled water is water that is intended165.110[b].
for human consumption and that is sealed in bottlesHere is a sampling of chemical contaminants bottled
or other containers with no added ingredients exceptwater has in it, along with the permitted milligrams
that it may optionally contain safe and suitableper liter.
antimicrobial agents. Fluoride may be optionally added* Barium.................................... 2.0
within the limitations established." The United States* Chromium.................................. 0.1
FDA* Copper.................................... 1.0
Who regulates what bottled water has in it?* Cyanide................................... 0.2
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)* Nickel.................................... 0.1
regulates bottled drinking water, which is classified as* Ethylbenzene (100-41-4)................... 0.7
a "food". The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)* Monochlorobenzene (108-90-7).............. 0.1
regulates tap water. Amazingly, the EPA guidelines* Styrene (100-42-5)........................ 0.1
for municipal water are stricter than the FDA* Toluene (108-88-3)........................ 1.0
restrictions for bottled drinking water! You might buy* Xylenes (1330-20-7)....................... 10.0
bottled drinking water that is acceptable to the FDAPesticides bottled water has in it.
but is not acceptable for use as ordinary bathroomThe FDA allows set levels of pesticides in bottled
tap water.water. There are set limits for each of 29 different
The FDA's specific regulations for bottled water arepesticides. People who purchase bottled water
found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulationsbelieve, normally, that they are avoiding pesticides by
(21 CFR).doing so. For a listing of these pesticides, see 21 CFR
What are FDA standards?165.110[b].
Under the standard of quality (21 CFR, 165.110[b]),Disinfectants bottled water has in it.
FDA allows certain levels of contaminants in bottledThe FDA allows bottled water to contain set levels
water.of residual disinfectants and disinfection byproducts.
Contaminants bottled water has in it.Examples from 21 CFR 165.110[b]:
1. Coliform. Coliform are rod-shaped bacteria, such as* Disinfection byproducts ...................
E. coli, that are normally present in the humanBromate................................. 0.010
intestine. The FDA says that bottled water may haveChlorite................................ 1.0
up to 9.2 coliform organisms per 100 milliliters. See 21Haloacetic acids (five) (HAA5).......... 0.060
CFR 165.110[b].Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)............ 0.080
2. Arsenic. Arsenic is a poison. The FDA says that* Residual disinfectants ...................
bottled water may have up to 0.05 milligrams per literChloramine.............................. 4.0 (as Cl2)
of arsenic. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].Chlorine................................ 4.0 (as Cl2)
3. Chloride. Chloride is a compound of chlorine, aChlorine dioxide........................ 0.8 (as ClO2)
substance used to disinfect tap water. The FDARadioactive materials bottled water has in it.
allows up to 250.0 milligrams per liter of chloride inThe FDA allows bottled water to contain set levels
bottled water. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].of radioactive material. See 21 CFR 165.110[b]. Three
4. Iron. Iron is a metallic element. Your body needsexamples:
some iron, but not too much. The FDA permits* "The bottled water shall not contain a combined
bottled water to contain up to 0.3 milligrams per literradium-226 and radium-228 activity in excess of 5
of iron. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].picocuries per liter of water."
5. Manganese. Manganese resembles iron and is used* "The bottled water shall not contain a gross alpha
in fertilizers. Bottled water may contain up to 0.05particle activity in excess of 15 picocuries per liter of
milligrams per liter of manganese. See 21 CFRwater."
165.110[b].* "The bottled water shall not contain uranium in
6. Phenols. Phenols are corrosive, poisonous acidicexcess of 30 micrograms per liter of water."
compounds. Your bottled water may contain up toBottled water has in it more than regulations allow.
0.001 milligrams per liter of phenols. See 21 CFRWhen bottled water does not meet the standards
165.110[b].set out by the FDA, it might still be sold. By law, it
7. Dissolved solids. "Dissolved solids" is a catch-allshould bear a suitable label.
phrase. The FDA allows bottled water to contain upExamples:
to 500 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids, of1. "Contains Excessive Bacteria"
whatever type. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].2. "Contains Excessive Arsenic"
8. Zinc. Zinc is a metallic element. Your body needs3. "Excessively Radioactive"
some zinc, but not too much. The FDA permitsWhat You Can Do
bottled water to contain up to 5.0 milligrams per liter* Take time to know what bottled water has in it.
of zinc. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].* Look for bottlers' web sites and compare
9. Fluoride. Fluoride is purposely added to someinformation.
bottled water. If so, the label should say so. In* Write to bottlers with specific questions.
addition, bottled water that is not labeled as* Remember that bottled water does not mean
containing fluoride may contain up to 2.4 milligramsabsolute purity.
per liter of fluoride. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].* Be sure yours is healthy drinking water.
Chemical contaminants bottled water has in it.