People often drink bottled water because they think it'ssafer than tap water. A new investigation by Consumer Reports found that is not always the case.
The consumer-protection nonprofit found that 11of more than 130 bottled-water brands had detectablelevels of arsenic, and six of those had levelsabove 3 parts per billion— the maximum level Consumer Reports recommends.
“It makes no sense that consumers can purchase bottled water that is less safe than tap water," Consumer Reports Chief Scientific Officer James Dickerson said. “If anything, bottled water — a product for which people pay a premium, often because they assume it’s safer — should be regulated at least as strictly as tap water.”
Recent research on arsenic consumption has shown that regular exposure to the heavy metal could be connectedto cardiovascular disease, adverse birth outcomes, illnesses in infants,reduced IQ andlung, bladder, prostate, and skin cancer.
Water brands with high level of arsenic
The Food and Drug Administration currentlylimits arsenic in bottled water to 10 ppb. But Consumer Reports is calling on the federal government to lower thelimit to 3 ppb.
"Current research suggests that amounts above (3 ppb)are potentially dangerous to drink over extended periods of time," according to the Consumer Reports investigation.
Here are the brands that tested above that level:
- Peñafiel (Keurig Dr Pepper):18.1 ppb.
- Starkey Water (Whole Foods):9.8 ppb.
- Crystal Creamery: 5 ppb.
- Volvic (Danone): 4 ppb.
- Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water: 3.8 ppb.
- EartH20: 3 ppb.
In a statement, the International Bottled Water Association said the industry"is committed to providing consumers with the safest and highest quality products," and disagreed with Consumer Reports' suggestion to lower the arsenic limit to 3 ppb.
"Consumers can continue to be confident that there are no health risks associated with drinking bottled water that meets current FDA standards. Bottled water, like all food and beverages, is strictly regulated by FDA, and experts who work for FDA have concluded that — based on the best available science — the current 10 ppb standard for arsenic in bottled water protects the public health," the International Bottled Water Association said.
Keurig Dr Pepper told Consumer Reports Monday that the company had suspended production for two weeks at its Mexico facility that makes the Peñafiel that is exported to the United States.
Keurig Dr Peppersaid itconducted new testing after questions from Consumer Reports and found levels above the federal limit, at an average of 17 ppb.
The company said it would improve its filtration to lower arsenic levels. It does not plan to recall the mineral water, according to Consumer Reports.
“An arsenic level of 17 ppb is a clear violation of the federal bottled water standard of 10 ppb,” Consumer Reports Director of Food Policy Initiative Jean Halloran said. “Keurig Dr Pepper should recall all Peñafiel water currently on the market that may contain these violative levels. Ifthey do not act, the FDA should mandate a recall.”
Water brands with low arsenic levels
Consumer Reports determined that the following water bottles had non-detectable levels of arsenic, or below 3 ppb.
- Aquafina
- Arrowhead
- Dasani
- Deer Park
- Essentia
- Evian
- Fiji
- Glaceau Smart Water
- Ice Mountain
- Kirkland(Costco)
- Life WTR
- Market Pantry(Target)
- Nestlé Pure Life
- Niagara
- Poland Spring
- Propel
