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Heavy Metal Index

Contamination of Bottled Waters with Antimony Leaching from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Increases upon Storage

Shotyk and Krachler remeasured antimony in bottled waters after about 6 months at room temperature in the original containers, and they report further brands from 16 countries.

Shotyk and Krachler remeasured antimony in bottled waters after about 6 months at room temperature in the original containers, and they report further brands from 16 countries. Quantification used sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, with a stated detection limit of 0.35 ng/L after dilution. Antimony increased on average 19 percent in the Canadian brands and 90 percent in the European brands. A French mineral water in PET rose from 725 ng/L to 1510 ng/L, and the same a coded productought in Hong Kong contained 1990 ng/L.

Key numbers

Figures below are copied as printed. Units are not converted. Species are not merged.

AnalyteWhat was reportedValueUnitBasisWhere
Sbmaximum allowable Sb concentration for drinking water in Japan2µg/Las-soldAbstract, p. 1
Sblimit of detection for Sb is 0.35 ng/L in the water samples0.35ng/Las-soldAnalytical Procedures, p. 2
Sbmaximum allowable for drinking water in Japan which is 2 µg/L (i.e., 2000 ng/L)2000ng/Las-soldFigure 5 narrative, p. 3
SbWHO, 20 µg/L20µg/Las-soldComparison with drinking water standards, p. 4
SbU.S. EPA, Health Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment, 6 µg/L6µg/Las-soldComparison with drinking water standards, p. 4
SbGerman Federal Ministry of Environment, 5 µg/L5µg/Las-soldComparison with drinking water standards, p. 4
SbJapanese drinking water standard of 2 µg/L2µg/Las-soldComparison with drinking water standards, p. 4
SbSb concentrations increased on average 19% during 6 months storage19%%as-soldAbstract, p. 1
Sb48 brands of water from 11 European countries increased on average 90%90%%as-soldAbstract, p. 1
Sbyielded 725 ng/L when first tested725ng/Las-soldAbstract, p. 1
Sb1510 ng/L when it was stored for 6 months at room temperature1510ng/LmigrationAbstract, p. 1
Sbpurchased in Hong Kong, yielded 1990 ng/L Sb1990ng/Las-soldAbstract, p. 1
SbPristine groundwater containing 1.7 ( 0.4 ng/L Sb (n ) 6)1.7 ( 0.4ng/Las-soldAbstract, p. 1
Sb26.6 ( 2.3 ng/L Sb (n ) 3) after storage in PET(E) bottles from Canada for 6 months26.6 ( 2.3ng/LmigrationAbstract, p. 1

The structured evidence record for this source holds 44 copied values. The table above is the short set.

Methods (brief)

Waters from the 2006 study were stored about 6 months in a clean laboratory at room temperature, with daytime light, and remeasured in May 2006. Pristine groundwater from Springwater Township, Ontario, was filled into emptied Canadian and German PET bottles and into polypropylene and stored 6 months without acidification. Tap water and an artesian flow near Bammental, Germany, were compared with tap water that had been bottled in PET in December 2005. Additional bottles were analyzed as received. The text extract writes plus-minus as an open parenthesis, so 26.6 ( 2.3 is copied in that form.

Evidence fitness

These data support change in antimony in bottled water after about 6 months storage in PET and in glass; antimony in pristine groundwater before and after storage in PET from Canada and Germany; range and median antimony in 69 additional bottled water brands; range of antimony in 12 Japanese bottled waters.

They do not support Sb(III) versus Sb(V); a numeric value for every bar in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7; named retail brands; a certification limit.

Limitations

Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 are bar charts. Only the values written in the text were copied, not bar heights. Percent increases of 33, 49, and 96 percent are not paired with the underlying concentrations. German glass bottles stay letter coded. Antimony was not speciated. The Japan 2 µg/L standard is also printed as 2000 ng/L. Those are cited limits, not measurements. Germanium is discussed for Japanese bottles but individual Ge numbers are not printed in the text.

Update history

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