Abstract
Italian Directives recommend the good quality of natural mineral waters but literature data assert a potential risk from microorganisms colonizing wellsprings and mineral water bottling plants. We evaluated the presence of microorganisms in spring waters (SW) and bottled mineral waters (BMW) samples. Routine microbiological indicators, additional microorganisms like Legionella spp., Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and amoebae (FLA) were assessed in 24 SW and 10 BMW samples performing cultural and molecular methods. In 33 out of 34 samples, no cultivable bacteria ≥10 CFU/L was found. Cultivable FLA were detected in 50% of water samples. qPCR showed the presence of Legionella qPCR units in 24% of samples (from 1.1 × 102 to 5.8 × 102 qPCR units/L) and NTM qPCR units in 18% of samples (from 1 × 102 to 1 × 105 qPCR units/L). Vermamoeba vermiformis and Acanthamoeba polyphaga were recovered respectively in 70% of BMW samples (counts from 1.3 × 103 to 1.2 × 105 qPCR units/L) and 42% of SW samples (from 1.1 × 103 to 1.3 × 104 qPCR units/L). Vahlkampfia spp. was detected in 42% of SW and 70% of BMW samples (from 1.2 × 103 to 1.2 × 105 qPCR units/L). Considering the presence of FLA, we underline the importance of a wider microbiological risk assessment in natural mineral waters despite the absence of cultivable bacteria.
Highlights
European Regulation (EC) No 54/2009 (European Parliament ) defines the general principles and requirements of natural mineral water safety
Standard curves were obtained by decimal dilutions of the plasmid, which was obtained by the cloning procedure of Legionella, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and free living amoebae (FLA) genes
In accordance to the same Regulations, Coliform bacteria, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and sulfate-reducing bacteria were not isolated in natural mineral water samples
Summary
European Regulation (EC) No 54/2009 (European Parliament ) defines the general principles and requirements of natural mineral water safety. Natural mineral water in its state at source may not be the subject of any addition of chemical products, as disinfectants, and may not be the subject of any treatment such as the separation of unstable elements, as iron and sulphur compounds, in order to not alter the original water composition and property in the constituents of ions. In Italy, the collection and distribution of natural mineral water is regulated by a Legislative Decree and Ministerial Decree
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