title: Concentrations of inorganic elements in bottled waters on the Swedish market.
abstract: This study presents the concentrations of about 50 metals and ions in 33 different brands of bottled waters on the Swedish market. Ten of the brands showed calcium (Ca) concentrations </=10 mg L(-1) and magnesium (Mg) levels <3 mg L(-1), implying very soft waters. Three of these waters had in addition low concentrations of sodium (Na; <7 mg L(-1)), potassium (K; <3 mg L(-1)) and bicarbonate (HCO(3) </=31 mg L(-1)). These brands were collected from barren districts. Nine of the brands were collected from limestone regions. They showed increased Ca-levels exceeding 50 mg L(-1) with a maximum of 289 mg L(-1). Corresponding Mg-levels were also raised in two brands exceeding 90 mg L(-1). Two soft and carbonated waters were supplemented with Na(2)CO(3) and NaCl, resulting in high concentrations of Na (644 and 648 mg L(-1)) and chloride (Cl; 204 and 219 mg L(-1)). Such waters may make a substantial contribution to the daily intake of NaCl in high water consumers. The storage of carbonated drinking water in aluminum (Al) cans increased the Al-concentration to about 70 microg L(-1). Conclusion As there was a large variation in the material as regards concentrations of macro-elements such as Ca, Mg, Na, K and Cl. Supplementation with salts, e.g., Na(2)CO(3), K(2) CO(3) and NaCl, can lead to increased concentrations of Na, K and Cl, as well as decreased ratios of Ca/Na and larger ratios of Na/K. Water with high concentrations of e.g., Ca and Mg, may make a substantial contribution to the daily intake of these elements in high water consumers. Al cans are less suited for storage of carbonated waters, as the lowered pH-values may dissolve Al. The levels of potentially toxic metals in the studied brands were generally low.
authors.affiliation: Inst. of Chemical Engineering, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden. rosborg@spray.se
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosborg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nihlgård
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gerhardsson
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gernersson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohlin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000592:standards*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013548:Sweden; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014867:Water