. The sodium content in drinking water for people having blood pressure and who are on
sodium-restricted diets has been limited to a maximum of 20 mg/l. Since 10 out of 17
samples analyzed had sodium content greater than this, people with hypertension all over
the world should observe caution while selecting the brand of bottled water. They should
not drink the water having high sodium content.
. Chloride and nitrates were found well below the recommended values of the WHO in all
the samples. All bottled water samples had shown fluoride content less than 1.0 mg/l. All
those samples which had shown fluoride values lesser than 0.5 mg/l should be taken
cautiously because supplement fluoridation is required, along with all these bottled water
samples.
. The pH of 14 samples was within the range of 7.0 – 8.5. Only three samples were just
slightly acidic. All the bottled drinking water showed zero chlorine demand which
indicated that water was bacteriologically safe for consumption. However confirmatory
tests like MPN, E. coli, etc., which were not performed in our study, are a must before
confirming the potability of drinking water from a bacteriological point of view.
. All the samples had amounts of zinc and copper less than the WHO recommended lower
limit of 5 mg/l and 0.05 mg/l respectively. Cadmium content in all the samples was also
found to be lesser than the WHO recommended lower limit of 0.005 mg/l.
. Lead had been found to be greater than the limit of 0.015 mg/l as prescribed by the WHO
and USEPA, in seven out of 17 samples. If not leached from the water pipes, then this lead
content may have originated from carbon-activated filters used during the processing of
water. Lead even at such a low concentration can pose health problems, like slowing down
normal mental and physical development in growing children (Needleman 1993) and
other effects as described above