title: Comparative assessment of genotoxicity of mineral water packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass bottles.
abstract: The potential migration of genotoxic compounds into mineral water stored in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles was evaluated by an integrated chemical/biological approach using short-term toxicity/genotoxicity tests and chemical analysis. Six commercial brands of still and carbonated mineral water bottled in PET and in glass were stored at 40 degrees C for 10 days in a stove according to the standard EEC total migration test (82/711/EEC), or at room temperature in the dark. After treatment, the samples were analysed using gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to detect volatile and non-volatile compounds, the Microtox test to evaluate potential toxicity of the samples, and three mutagenicity tests -Tradescantia and Allium cepa micronucleus tests and the Comet assay on human leukocytes - to detect their genotoxic activity. GC/MS analysis did not detect phthalates or acetaldehyde in the water samples. The Microtox test found no toxic effects. Mutagenicity tests detected genotoxic properties of some samples in both PET and glass bottles. Statistical analyses showed a positive association between mineral content and mutagenicity (micronuclei in A. cepa and DNA damage in human leukocytes). No clear effect of treatment and PET bottle was found. These results suggest the absence of toxic compounds migrating from PET regardless of time and conditions of storage. In conclusion, bottle material and stove treatment were not associated with the genotoxic properties of the water; the genotoxic effects detected in bottled water may be related to the characteristics of the water (minerals and CO(2) content).
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Hygiene Section, University of Brescia, 11 Viale Europa, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ceretti
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guzzella
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaglia
authors.forename: Vanda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berna
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monarca
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feretti
mesh_terms: D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000633:toxicity*; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D019697:Onions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry*; D034823:Tradescantia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates