Bottled water around you

Bottled water is water sold to consumers in sealed containers. It can be represented as "spring" or "mineral" water. It might also be water from various sources that may have been treated to make it fit for human consumption and put in sealed containers for sale.

Non-governmental organisation Centre for Science and Environment had in February showed that 17 leading brands like Bisleri, Kinley and Aquaplus sold in Mumbai and Delhi contained toxic material.
A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment says that most of the brands of packaged/mineral water available in the country contain pesticides -- several of them banned -- significantly higher than permissible limits, which can cause serious physical impairment ranging from damage to the central nervous system to lung cancer.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the study says that while packaged water brands in Delhi have 36.4 times higher total pesticide content than the permissible limits, Mumbai brands have 7.2 times the standard content.
The European Economic Commission directs that the maximum residue limit for total pesticides is 0.0005 mg per litre and 0.0001 mg per litre for a single pesticide.
Bacteria are found in most bottled waters sold for drinking purposes. Bottled water is usually disinfected to remove harmful organisms, but is not intended to sterilize the water. Usually, sterile water is reserved for pharmaceuticals.
Many studies have shown that the levels of bacteria increase quickly to maximum levels after six weeks of unrefrigerated shelf life. However, since disinfection (ultra-violet (UV) light, or ozonation) destroys the harmful organisms, this natural regrowth of harmless flora of the water is not considered to be a health hazard. Refrigeration is recommended after the water container is opened in case harmful bacteria are reintroduced at this time.
Watch out for that 'healthy' bottled water you're drinking - it might contain fluoride. America, the world's largest market, is now allowing 'natural' bottled water to be fluoridated. The decision has been made by the USA's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - and its decision surprisingly goes against the advice of the American Dental Association (ADA).
The ADA has told mothers that they should not mix fluoridated water into formula or foods for a child younger than one year - and so bottled water has been an obvious alternative to tap water, most of which is fluoridated.
The ADA is concerned that excessive fluoride can cause enamel fluorosis in an infant's developing teeth. Fluorosis is a condition that causes tooth enamel to discolour and pit. It's estimated that up to 32 per cent of all American children have dental fluorosis.
Fluoride in water has been linked to arthritis, allergies, kidney and thyroid dysfunction, endocrine disruption, bone damage and cancer.
Do we need to think of how safe is our drinking water ?

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