Bottled water and tap water have the same level of chemical contaminants, according to an October, 2008, study.
The Environmental Working Group of Washington, DC, purchased 10 bottled water brands in nine states and the District of Columbia. A lab found traces of 38 pollutants, averaging eight pollutants per brand. In addition, four of the brands showed bacterial contamination (http://www.ewg.org/reports/bottledwater).
Two of the brands, Walmart's and Giant's store brands, were chemically indistinguishable from tap water, containing chlorine disinfectant byproducts. Giant's brand also contained fluoride. These levels of chlorine byproducts exceeded the safety standards set by the bottled water industry and the state of California.
The lab at the University of Iowa found pollutants ranging from caffeine and Tylenol to arsenic, radioactive isotopes, ammonia and nitrate (fertilizer residues), and solvents, propellants, plasticizers, and others.
The researchers conducted an additional test, intended to measure estrogen-mimicking, carcinogenic chmicals found in plastic bottles typically used for bottled water. Breast-cancer cells in a lab dish were given water samples from the study and compared to a control. One brand spurred a 78 percent increase in the breast cancer cells, as compared to the control.
Americans are drinking more than nine billion gallons of bottled water yearly, at a typical cost of $3.79 per gallon. But this study shows, and the EPA points out, "Bottled water is not necessarily safer than your tap water (www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/faq.html). That's because the EPA sets tap water standards, and the FDA sets bottled water standards based on the EPA's tap water standards.
You can make a wise decision by spending just 8 cents per gallon on a home water filter, which you can install at your kitchen sink. It can provide you with clean pure water, which you can put in safe containers of your choice. - 15255
The Environmental Working Group of Washington, DC, purchased 10 bottled water brands in nine states and the District of Columbia. A lab found traces of 38 pollutants, averaging eight pollutants per brand. In addition, four of the brands showed bacterial contamination (http://www.ewg.org/reports/bottledwater).
Two of the brands, Walmart's and Giant's store brands, were chemically indistinguishable from tap water, containing chlorine disinfectant byproducts. Giant's brand also contained fluoride. These levels of chlorine byproducts exceeded the safety standards set by the bottled water industry and the state of California.
The lab at the University of Iowa found pollutants ranging from caffeine and Tylenol to arsenic, radioactive isotopes, ammonia and nitrate (fertilizer residues), and solvents, propellants, plasticizers, and others.
The researchers conducted an additional test, intended to measure estrogen-mimicking, carcinogenic chmicals found in plastic bottles typically used for bottled water. Breast-cancer cells in a lab dish were given water samples from the study and compared to a control. One brand spurred a 78 percent increase in the breast cancer cells, as compared to the control.
Americans are drinking more than nine billion gallons of bottled water yearly, at a typical cost of $3.79 per gallon. But this study shows, and the EPA points out, "Bottled water is not necessarily safer than your tap water (www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/faq.html). That's because the EPA sets tap water standards, and the FDA sets bottled water standards based on the EPA's tap water standards.
You can make a wise decision by spending just 8 cents per gallon on a home water filter, which you can install at your kitchen sink. It can provide you with clean pure water, which you can put in safe containers of your choice. - 15255
About the Author:
Bottled water is a waste of money. A home water filter can protect your loved ones and do it at low cost--get safe healthy for just 8 cents per gallon, at your kitchen sink. Your body needs water with certain trace minerals, so select a system that keeps those in and takes out harmful bacteria, minerals, chemicals and chlorine byproducts. http://www.home-water-filter.info
