Antimony, Arsenic, Bromate and Nickel Contents of Bottled Water (Number 28/02)

Thursday 15 August 2002

Bottled water legislation is changing. In December 2003, a reduction in the permitted levels of antimony, arsenic, bromate and nickel will come into force to better protect consumers.

Key Facts

• The objective of this survey was to determine levels of these four substances in all types of bottled waters currently sold in the UK (natural mineral water, spring water and bottled drinking water).
• Of the 161 samples that were collected, none contained antimony or nickel at a concentration above either the current or future limits.
• Allowing for measurement uncertainty, no sample contained arsenic above the current limit, but seven samples exceeded the future limit.
• A single sample exceeded the future limit for bromate.
• Where samples exceeded the future limit, manufacturers have been informed to enable them, where appropriate, to take remedial action.
• Although no waters in the survey contained levels of antimony, arsenic or nickel that exceed current statutory limits, the limits are being reduced in 2003 in line with the latest scientific advice. In the meantime, consumers may with to use the survey results as a guide when planning purchases.

Summary

Legislation, currently in draft, which sets new limits for antimony, arsenic, bromate and nickel in bottled waters will come into force on 25th December 2003.

This report describes the findings of a survey carried out in April, looking at bottled waters collected between October 2001 and February 2002, to investigate the levels of antimony, arsenic, bromate and nickel in the water and to determine compliance with current and proposed limits.

The maximum concentrations of antimony and nickel detected were 4.2 and 9.6 micrograms per litre, respectively. Both of these values are below existing and future limits.

The concentrations of arsenic ranged from below the limit of detection up to 59.7 micrograms per litre. This highest value was found in a single sample. All remaining samples contained less than 25 micrograms per litre, well below the current limit (50 micrograms per litre). Seven samples, when taking measurement uncertainty into account, contained arsenic at levels greater than 10 micrograms per litre, the limit that will apply from 25 December 2003.

As with the other parameters, bromate analysis was carried out at two laboratories. Although two samples contained measurable levels of bromate at both laboratories, a further 8 samples contained bromate at above the limit of detection in measurements from one laboratory. A single sample was identified as being above the future limit of 10 micrograms per litre.

No current levels were exceeded. Where a future limit was exceeded, the manufacturer was informed. The manufacturers concerned did not want to comment on the data.