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'water' for thought...
Bottled water has contaminants too, study finds
By JEFF DONN, AP National Writer Wed Oct 15, 12:17 AM ET
Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.
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The findings challenge the popular impression — and marketing pitch — that bottled water is purer than tap water, the researchers say.
However, all the brands met federal health standards for drinking water. Two violated a California state standard, the study said.
An industry group branded the findings "alarmist." Joe Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, said the study is based on the faulty premise that a contaminant is a health concern "even if it does not exceed the established regulatory limit or no standard has been set."
The study's lab tests on 10 brands of bottled water detected 38 chemicals including bacteria, caffeine, the pain reliever acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents, plastic-making chemicals and the radioactive element strontium. Though some probably came from tap water that some companies use for their bottled water, other contaminants probably leached from plastic bottles, the researchers said.
"In some cases, it appears bottled water is no less polluted than tap water and, at 1,900 times the cost, consumers should expect better," said Jane Houlihan, an environmental engineer who co-authored the study.
The two-year study was done by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, an organization founded by scientists that advocates stricter regulation. It found the contaminants in bottled water purchased in nine states and Washington, D.C.
Researchers tested one batch for each of 10 brands. Eight did not have contaminants high enough to warrant further testing. But two brands did, so more tests were done and those revealed chlorine byproducts above California's standard, the group reported. The researchers identified those two brands as Sam's Choice sold by Wal-Mart and Acadia of Giant Food supermarkets.
In the Wal-Mart and Giant Food bottled water, the highest concentration of chlorine byproducts, known as trihalomethanes, was over 35 parts per billion. California's limit is 10 parts per billion or less, and the industry's International Bottled Water Association makes 10 its voluntary guideline. The federal limit is 80.
Wal-Mart said its own studies did not turn up illegal levels of contaminants. Giant Food officials released a statement asserting that Acadia meets all regulatory standards. Acadia is sold in the mid-Atlantic states, so it isn't held to California's standard. In most places, bottled water must meet roughly the same federal standards as tap water.
The researchers also said the Wal-Mart brand was five times California's limit for one particular chlorine byproduct, bromodichloromethane. The environmental group wants Wal-Mart to label its bottles in California with a warning because the chlorine-based contaminants have been linked with cancer. It has filed a notice of intent to sue.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Shannon Frederick said the company was "puzzled" by the findings because testing by suppliers and another lab had detected no "reportable amounts" of such contaminants. She said Wal-Mart would investigate further but defended the quality of its bottled water.
The researchers recommend that people worried about water contaminants drink tap water with a carbon filter.
By JEFF DONN, AP National Writer Wed Oct 15, 12:17 AM ET
Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.
ADVERTISEMENT
The findings challenge the popular impression — and marketing pitch — that bottled water is purer than tap water, the researchers say.
However, all the brands met federal health standards for drinking water. Two violated a California state standard, the study said.
An industry group branded the findings "alarmist." Joe Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, said the study is based on the faulty premise that a contaminant is a health concern "even if it does not exceed the established regulatory limit or no standard has been set."
The study's lab tests on 10 brands of bottled water detected 38 chemicals including bacteria, caffeine, the pain reliever acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents, plastic-making chemicals and the radioactive element strontium. Though some probably came from tap water that some companies use for their bottled water, other contaminants probably leached from plastic bottles, the researchers said.
"In some cases, it appears bottled water is no less polluted than tap water and, at 1,900 times the cost, consumers should expect better," said Jane Houlihan, an environmental engineer who co-authored the study.
The two-year study was done by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, an organization founded by scientists that advocates stricter regulation. It found the contaminants in bottled water purchased in nine states and Washington, D.C.
Researchers tested one batch for each of 10 brands. Eight did not have contaminants high enough to warrant further testing. But two brands did, so more tests were done and those revealed chlorine byproducts above California's standard, the group reported. The researchers identified those two brands as Sam's Choice sold by Wal-Mart and Acadia of Giant Food supermarkets.
In the Wal-Mart and Giant Food bottled water, the highest concentration of chlorine byproducts, known as trihalomethanes, was over 35 parts per billion. California's limit is 10 parts per billion or less, and the industry's International Bottled Water Association makes 10 its voluntary guideline. The federal limit is 80.
Wal-Mart said its own studies did not turn up illegal levels of contaminants. Giant Food officials released a statement asserting that Acadia meets all regulatory standards. Acadia is sold in the mid-Atlantic states, so it isn't held to California's standard. In most places, bottled water must meet roughly the same federal standards as tap water.
The researchers also said the Wal-Mart brand was five times California's limit for one particular chlorine byproduct, bromodichloromethane. The environmental group wants Wal-Mart to label its bottles in California with a warning because the chlorine-based contaminants have been linked with cancer. It has filed a notice of intent to sue.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Shannon Frederick said the company was "puzzled" by the findings because testing by suppliers and another lab had detected no "reportable amounts" of such contaminants. She said Wal-Mart would investigate further but defended the quality of its bottled water.
The researchers recommend that people worried about water contaminants drink tap water with a carbon filter.
Marcia,
You web address got zapped.
Also, if you want to know more about the "evil" wal mart, go to "youtube"
and watch all the penn and teller videos on walmart.
I do shop there, but I like target better!
bandman
You web address got zapped.
Also, if you want to know more about the "evil" wal mart, go to "youtube"
and watch all the penn and teller videos on walmart.
I do shop there, but I like target better!
bandman
I think you should read about this... something new on the market, which is supposed to be better. I split up the link, so they don't zap it.
http://www.
****.***
http://www.
****.***
I cannot comment on that. I have never been to a walmart and I don't know what they stand for, as I don't live in the US.
Marcia
Marcia
Glad I reread the study... and noticed all the wal-mart bashing... now I get it.
Evil capitalist walmart. lol.
dubya,dubya,dubya.youtube.com/watch?v=4KrjQqIXHdU
bandman
Evil capitalist walmart. lol.
dubya,dubya,dubya.youtube.com/watch?v=4KrjQqIXHdU
bandman
Yeah, I filter my water too.
I just get so tired of all these people doing studies that are pretty much a wasted of time,
but gives them job security.
They need to get out and do some real work.
bandman
I just get so tired of all these people doing studies that are pretty much a wasted of time,
but gives them job security.
They need to get out and do some real work.
bandman
For me this has nothing to do with politics nor money making....
For me it is a very very simple decision:
I filter my water, because I do not want to drink tap water. I'd rather filter out the toxins and drink purer water, especially since I am drinking more than a gallon a day.
And I am not keen on spending money on buying tap water in a bottle, unless I absolutely have to. If one wants to drink tap water, one can just open any tap any where and get the water from there.
Marcia
For me it is a very very simple decision:
I filter my water, because I do not want to drink tap water. I'd rather filter out the toxins and drink purer water, especially since I am drinking more than a gallon a day.
And I am not keen on spending money on buying tap water in a bottle, unless I absolutely have to. If one wants to drink tap water, one can just open any tap any where and get the water from there.
Marcia
Myself, being a rabid capitalist, view this as just another attempt to keep someone from making money, and justify more money being spent on , yet another, un-needed study.
Most environmental groups are actually anti-capitalist who actually want to promote socialism. The irony is... check out how much money their administrators make....lol.
I urge you to visit their website and check out their list of contributers,
then check out those contributers and their beliefs.
and just for fun, watch all of the penn and teller videos. Course, what could they know , they are just a couple of magicians!
dubya,dubya,dubya.youtube.com/watch?v=b0mq9skLurY&feature=related
dubya,dubya,dubya.youtube.com/watch?v=UXZRBJYX__E
watch 'em all!
Watch these soon as all of the p and t videos are disappearing from the web.. conspiracy! lol!
Let the fireworks begin.
Just more money wasted to tell us something any ******* could figure out, if you are buying cheap *** bottled water, you are buying **** and deserve to die from all of the contaminates, thank you for cleaning up the gene pool.
That being said.... I too use a filter on my tap, only because I got tired of having hundreds of plastic bottles in my car, trash , etc.
But occasionally I do drink a bottled water...and have tried them all....
my favorite is called "Smart Water". This is absolutely the best bottled water (IMO) I have ever tasted. Check it out.
ps - please do not correct my spelling, I am just a dumb redneck!
psps - want to race?
bandman
Most environmental groups are actually anti-capitalist who actually want to promote socialism. The irony is... check out how much money their administrators make....lol.
I urge you to visit their website and check out their list of contributers,
then check out those contributers and their beliefs.
and just for fun, watch all of the penn and teller videos. Course, what could they know , they are just a couple of magicians!
dubya,dubya,dubya.youtube.com/watch?v=b0mq9skLurY&feature=related
dubya,dubya,dubya.youtube.com/watch?v=UXZRBJYX__E
watch 'em all!
Watch these soon as all of the p and t videos are disappearing from the web.. conspiracy! lol!
Let the fireworks begin.
Just more money wasted to tell us something any ******* could figure out, if you are buying cheap *** bottled water, you are buying **** and deserve to die from all of the contaminates, thank you for cleaning up the gene pool.
That being said.... I too use a filter on my tap, only because I got tired of having hundreds of plastic bottles in my car, trash , etc.
But occasionally I do drink a bottled water...and have tried them all....
my favorite is called "Smart Water". This is absolutely the best bottled water (IMO) I have ever tasted. Check it out.
ps - please do not correct my spelling, I am just a dumb redneck!
psps - want to race?
bandman
Bottled water is the same as tap water but it tastes better. That's the only difference.
BTW...ive been noticing over the years the gunk in my distiller gets worse every year...what does this tell you?
ca 1000 DKK for the counter top filter incl. cartridges... and then ca 500 every 6 months for new cartridges.
Ive been using a counter top water distiller ever since i can remember...sears sells them for less than 200 bucks....they go by the name of 'water purifiers....thing pays for it self in no time....you wont believe the gunk left in the bottom after just one batch...it smells vile and looks even worse....
Can't remember. the US site is ****.***
there is also a Danish distributor, but they don't sell the bottles. I also use their shower filter, as the skin is our biggest organ and i don't want to shower with chlorine water.
here is the link to the Danish site, I think they are the Scandinavian distributor
energiseyourlife.com
there is also a Danish distributor, but they don't sell the bottles. I also use their shower filter, as the skin is our biggest organ and i don't want to shower with chlorine water.
here is the link to the Danish site, I think they are the Scandinavian distributor
energiseyourlife.com
Marcia - Yeah I saw the story about Walmart's water on AOL news today. It was talking about finding carcinogens in their water. Nice. Guess I'll stick to my Britta filter...
I'm using the counter top Aquasana. I take it with me when I travel for longer periods, as one can just screw it onto the faucet. We have one in our home in Mali, too. In Indonesia, I have something more sophisticated, as it is not enough with that. I also have these squeeze bottles with a carbon filter, which we use when we travel. We go tracking, when we are in Mali and sometimes have to buy bottled water on the way, which we also put into the squeeze bottles. It even neutralizes the taste immediately.
Very interesting.
The best thing I did for myself this past year when I found out I have Hep C was to invest in an under-the-counter water filter system for my drinking water. It was a couple hundred dollars but I no longer need to rely on bottled water and the new plastic worry, etc. I bought glass water bottles that I can take with me just as one does with the plastic.
The best thing I did for myself this past year when I found out I have Hep C was to invest in an under-the-counter water filter system for my drinking water. It was a couple hundred dollars but I no longer need to rely on bottled water and the new plastic worry, etc. I bought glass water bottles that I can take with me just as one does with the plastic.
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