Bottled Water: Environmental Health Factors

Bottled Water: Environmental Health Factors

Jacquelyn Burton

PUBH-5165-1 Environmental Health

Instructor: Howard Rubin

April 24, 2011

IntroductionIntroduction

• Bottled water versus tap water– For better– For worse

OverviewOverview

Bottled Water ConsumptionBottled Water Consumption

Bottled Water WasteBottled Water Waste

Bottled Water Quality Bottled Water Quality

Bottled & Tap Water Regulations & SafetyBottled & Tap Water Regulations & Safety

Chemical composition of plastic bottles & exposure health risk

Chemical composition of plastic bottles & exposure health risk

Bottled Water Types Bottled Water Types

Bottled Water ConsumptionBottled Water Consumption

2000-20042005-2010

2011

Last 10 years of bottled water consumption in the United

States

Last 10 years of bottled water consumption in the United States

• Approximately 155,600,152 million people in the United States

• Approximately $4 billion/yr in sales

• Marketing tactics• Perception of bottled water

‒ Pure‒ Clean‒ Safe

• Studies by The Natural Resources Defense Council

Bottled Water WasteBottled Water Waste• Contamination of bottled water

– Manufacturing facilities• Energy waste

– Expensive habit & wasted oil• Disposing of plastic bottles

– Recycling– Chemical breakdown

Bottled Water Quality Bottled Water Quality • Impure sources• Contaminants

– Bacterial – Chemical

• Violations‒ Excessive levels of fluoride‒ Excessive levels of coliform bacteria

Bottled Water Quality Bottled Water Quality

•Synthetic organic chemicals‒ Arsenic‒ Inorganic contaminants

• Nonpoint source pollution

Bottled & Tap Water RegulationsBottled & Tap Water Regulations

Bottled Water Regulations• Regulated by the FDA

– Food• Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act

‒ Provides regulatory authority to the FDA

• Title 21: Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR)

‒ Defines different types of water‒ Processing & Labeling‒ Quality standards & Levels of contamination

Tap Water Regulations• Regulated by the EPA• Stricter regulations

– Production & Distribution– Quality & Source water

protection– Operations of systems– Levels of contamination– Reporting

Bottled & Tap Water Regulations & Safety

Bottled & Tap Water Regulations & Safety

Bottled Water Regulations• Inspections

– No specific program• Collects samples for testing• Plastic containers• State & local governmental

regulations• Development of new

regulations

Tap Water Regulations• Water testing schedules• Water treatment• State enforcement autonomy• List of contaminants

acceptable levels

• Artesian Water

• Mineral Water

• Purified Water

• Sparkling Bottled

Water

• Spring Water

Bottled Water TypesBottled Water Types

Chemical composition of plastic bottles & exposure health risk

Chemical composition of plastic bottles & exposure health risk

Properties found in plastic bottles

Chemicals Consequences or health risk Effects & symptoms

Toluene Nervous systemLoss of appetiteKidneysDeath

Xylene HeadachesNervous systemSkin , eye, nose, & throat irritation Digestive discomfortLiverKidneys

Properties found in plastic bottles

Polyethylene terephthalatePhthalate (Adipate- a phthalate)

Endocrine disruptors

Styrene Nervous systemHearing loss-observed in animalsLiver damage-observed in animalsPossible carcinogen

Arsenic Sore throat-inorganicIrritated Lungs-inorganicSkin darkeningCorns/warts (palms, soles, & torso)Carcinogenic-skin, liver, bladder, & lungs

Nitrates Pregnancy issuesAcquired methemoglobinemiaCarcinogenic

Chemical composition of plastic bottles & exposure health risk

Chemical composition of plastic bottles & exposure health risk

ConclusionConclusion• Bottled water

– $$$,$$$,$$$– Attributed to marketing tactics– Not regulated by the federal government– Has contaminants & plastic used is not

biodegradable– Pollutes the environment & Comprised of tap

water• Tap water

−Regulated by the federal government− $$

ReferencesReferences• Agency for Toxic Substances Registry. (2011). Toxic substances

portal. Retrieved from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp • American Beverage Association. (2011). Reincarnation. Retrieved

April 23, 2011 from http://www.ameribev.org/minisites/recycling/packaging/reincarnation.php

• Brown, L. (2009). Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to save civilization. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch04.pdf

• Clean Air Council. (nd). Waste and Recycling Facts. Retrieved April 23, 2011 from http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html

• Natural Resources Defense Council (nd). Bottled water, pure drink or pure hype? Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/exesum.asp

ReferencesReferences• Posnick, L. and Kim, H. (2002). February/March 2002 Ask the

regulators—bottled water regulation and the FDA. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/BottledWaterCarbonatedSoftDrinks/ucm077079.htm

• Santa Clara Valley Water District. (2007, February 1). Bottle vs. tap water. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0K5h3VBnXc&feature=related

• Sax L. (2009). Polyethylene Terephthalate May Yield Endocrine Disruptors. Environ Health Perspectives 118(4). Retrieved from Environmental Health Perspectives web site doi:10.1289/ehp.0901253

• U.S. Census Bureau (2011). U.S. & World Population Clocks. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

ReferencesReferences• U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2009, June). Bottled Water:

FDA Safety and Consumer Protections are Often Less Stringent than Comparable EPA Protections for Tap Water. Retrieved June 2010 from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09610.pdf

• Unites State Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Current drinking water regulations. Retrieved April 24, 2011 from http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/currentregulations.cfm

• United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). What is nonpoint source pollution? Retrieved April 23, 2011 from http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/whatis.cfm