Bottled, tap, and filtered drinking water associated health impacts and carbon footprint: A modelling study in Barcelona, Spain.

Quantitative evidence of health and environmental tradeoffs between individuals' drinking water choices is needed to inform decision-making. We evaluated health and environmental impacts of drinking water choices using health impact and life cycle assessment (HIA, LCA) methodologies applied to data from Barcelona, Spain. We estimated the health and environmental impacts of four drinking water scenarios for the Barcelona population: 1) currently observed drinking water sources; a complete shift to 2) tap water; 3) bottled water; or 4) filtered tap water. We estimated the local bladder cancer incidence attributable to trihalomethane (THM) exposure, based on survey data on drinking water sources, THM levels, published exposure-response functions, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the Global Burden of Disease 2017. We estimated the environmental impacts (species lost/year, and resources use) from waste generation and disposal, use of electricity, chemicals, and plastic to produce tap or bottled drinking water using LCA. The scenario where the entire population consumed tap water yielded the lowest environmental impact on ecosystems and resources, while the scenario where the entire population drank bottled water yielded the highest impacts (1400 and 3500 times higher for species lost and resource use, respectively). Meeting drinking water needs using bottled or filtered tap water led to the lowest bladder cancer DALYs (respectively, 140 and 9 times lower than using tap water) in the Barcelona population. Our study provides the first attempt to integrate HIA and LCA to compare health and environmental impacts of individual water consumption choices. Our results suggest that the sustainability gain from consuming water from public supply relative to bottled water may exceed the reduced risk of bladder cancer due to THM exposure from consuming bottled water in Barcelona. Our analysis highlights several critical data gaps and methodological challenges in quantifying integrated health and environmental impacts of drinking water choices.

Objective: Drinking water quality is of great concern because of different water borne diseases and negative impacts on the health of humans. Increased trend of bottled water usage is seen around the world. The purpose of this study was to analyze the physiochemical and bacteriological quality of tap and bottled drinking water and campare their parameters. Methods: This study is carried out to determine the physicochemical and microbial properties of the bottled and tap water available in the Lahore city of Pakistan.15 different samples of each bottled and tap water were collected from different areas of Lahore. The investigated parameters were mainly total dissolved solid(TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), total coliform, Pseudomonas, sodium, arsenic, iron, colour and taste using standard analytical techniques available in the laboratory. The data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The results showed that among 15 different bottled water samples, 66.7% samples contain pseudomonas bacteria and 26.7% samples were contaminated with total coliform the other parameters (sodium, arsenic, TDS, iron ) were under safe limit whereas 100% of tap water samples were contaminated. Although some parameters of bottled water in Lahore city were within acceptable range, but most of the bottled water was contaminated with total coliform and pseudomonasthatis not safe to the consumers' health and none of tap water sample was safe. Practical Implication: This study will be made available to readers for the awareness of water quality and its problem concerned. As ill impacts of contaminated water particularly with above mentioned contaminents, include waterborne diseases and other many diseases. Conclusion: It is concluded from this study that the use of bottled drinking water is based on the assumption that it is pure. In thisstudy, 66.7% of bottled water and 100% of tap water samples were contaminated with total coliform and pseudomonas exceeding WHO standards. The findings of our study also suggest that as compared to tap water, the bottled drinking water may be safer to drink. Keywords: water, quality, contamination, bottled water, tap water

Review objective The review objective is to synthesise the best available evidence on exposure to chlorinated water and risk of cancer. Risks associated with colorectal or bladder cancers have already been established and therefore will not be considered in this systematic review. Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review will consider studies that include males and females of all ages. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest This review will consider studies that evaluate exposure to chlorine disinfection by-products by drinking (ingesting), bathing, showering, swimming, cooking, cleaning and dishwashing (dermal and inhalation) and identify incidence and mortality outcomes of cancer (excluding colorectal and bladder) compared with exposure without chemical disinfection (chlorine) or alternative disinfection processes. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures. Incidence, mortality and specifically measures of risk between exposure and outcome of cancers with the exception of bowel and bladder. For example the following cancers have been associated with chlorine disinfection by products, kidney/adrenal, liver, thyroid, pituitary, lymphoma and leukaemia, pancreatic, gastrointestinal (other than colorectal), testicular, breast and lung cancer. These and any other cancers identified as relevant eg. skin cancers will be included.

Physical and chemical characteristics of drinking water quality in Kuwait: tap vs. bottled water

Distribution of uranium in German bottled and tap water

Life cycle assessment of drinking water: Comparing conventional water treatment, reverse osmosis and mineral water in glass and plastic bottles

Increasingly, governmental agencies are taking action in response to health concerns associated with microplastic exposure in drinking water. These efforts have focused primarily on municipal tap water rather than bottled water. This is concerning, given the surge in bottled water consumption in the U.S., a surge partially fueled by negative perceptions of tap water quality, especially among minority communities. Even though microplastics may not be the biggest health risk or primary reason for consumer choices around tap and bottled water, the rising concerns around microplastic exposure and impacts on human health are important to take into consideration. A systematic review was conducted to assess microplastic concentrations in various sources of drinking water, including bottled water and municipal tap water. To facilitate a more accurate comparison of microplastic concentrations between studies, we realigned the analyzed microplastic size classes between studies. Additionally, trends in California household-level bottled water purchases were analyzed using a nationwide dataset of bottled water transactions to determine the corresponding rates of microplastic exposure associated with these consumption patterns. Our results suggest that there is a sevenfold higher concentration of microplastics in bottled water compared to tap water globally. In comparison, studies conducted in the Global North have found a six times higher concentration of microplastics in bottled water compared to tap water, and seven times more microplastics in bottled water compared to tap water in the Global South. While income is found to be positively associated with bottled water purchases and increases in microplastic exposure in California, substantial disparities in exposure persist by ethnicity and race after controlling for income. Although microplastics may not be the primary health risk or the primary reason for consumer choices regarding tap and bottled water, the growing concerns about microplastic exposure and its impacts on human health are important to consider. Choices made by consumers regarding drinking water types, regardless of the reason for these choices, should be made with the best available information. Therefore, our results underscore the importance of addressing information disparities related to bottled water quality. This is particularly important within marginalized communities served by high-quality municipal drinking water, where misperceptions of tap water quality and limited information on bottled water quality contribute to the consumption of bottled water.

This innovative study focuses on identifying the primary trends in citizens’ decision-making regarding sustainable and healthy water use and the promotion of tap water options. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether there was a connection between citizen-consumer choices of tap water versus bottled water and their socio-demographic attributes or environmental awareness and consciousness, which both influence the access to and quality of drinking water. The availability, safety and quality of drinking water is a basic human right and an important public health issue. Water plays a crucial role in terms of increasing geo-political and socio-economic importance. Several researchers have examined the multiple elements influencing customers’ opinions about the quality of water and services, finding that a variety of internal and external factors play a role. To accomplish the study goals, a variety of research methodologies were applied to the use case of Kilkis city, Region of Central Macedonia, Greece. Gaining insight was first facilitated via communication with a focus group of local professionals and policy-makers. Then, a social survey of 407 randomly chosen citizens was conducted to collect the data. The key determinants influencing citizens’ drinking water choices were investigated using multivariate data analysis. Specifically, cluster analysis was employed to group customers exhibiting similar water usage patterns, resulting in the identification of two groups: (a) individuals who favored bottled water and (b) individuals who favored tap water with no filtration. The comparison of the distribution of water consumers between these two clusters, via a Chi-Square test with cross tabulation analysis, showed that customers’ drinking water buying habits were not influenced by their socio-demographic traits. On the other hand, the choice of tap water was found to be positively connected to citizens’ increased level of environmental consciousness. The outcomes of this study can help the stakeholders involved to assist in making improvements to customer service programs for encouraging tap water use, as a more sustainable and healthy water option. Moreover, the population could potentially be motivated to adopt updated technologies for recycling water down the line, moving towards sustainable water resource management.

Health risk of phthalates in water environment: Occurrence in water resources, bottled water, and tap water, and burden of disease from exposure through drinking water in tehran, Iran

BackgroundWater-related diseases are of great concern in developing countries like Nepal. Every year, there are countless morbidity and mortality due to the consumption of unsafe drinking water. Recently, there have been increased uses of bottled drinking water in an assumption that the bottled water is safer than the tap water and its use will help to protect from water-related diseases. So, the main objective of this study was to analyze the bacteriological quality of bottled drinking water and that of municipal tap water.MethodsA total of 100 samples (76 tap water and 24 bottled water) were analyzed for bacteriological quality and pH. The methods used were spread plate method for total plate count (TPC) and membrane filter method for total coliform count (TCC), fecal coliform count (FCC), and fecal streptococcal count (FSC). pH meter was used for measuring pH.ResultsOne hundred percent of the tap water samples and 87.5 % of the bottled water samples were found to be contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria. Of the tap water samples, 55.3 % were positive for total coliforms, compared with 25 % of the bottled water. No bottled water samples were positive for fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, in contrast to 21.1 % and 14.5 % of the tap water samples being contaminated with fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, respectively. One hundred percent of the tap water samples and 54.2 % of the bottled water samples had pH in the acceptable range.ConclusionsAll of the municipal tap water samples and most of the bottled drinking water samples distributed in Dharan municipality were found to be contaminated with one or more than one type of indicator organisms. On the basis of our findings, we may conclude that comparatively, the bottled drinking water may have been safer (than tap water) to drink.

This study aims to report on drinking water consumption patterns and perception on usage of drinking water available in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 225 adults aged 21-65 completed the questionnaire which consists of three sections. Socio-demographic data, drinking water consumption patterns were determined. Perceptions were based on the quality and price as well as reasons for intake of tap, bottled drinking water and bottled mineral water. About 79% of the subjects drank 5 to 12 glasses of water a day. Among the subjects, 73%, 14.8% and 11.9% consumed tap water, bottled mineral water and bottled drinking water, respectively. The reasons for consuming bottled water include safety, health, quality and taste. The results also showed that the subjects perceived low to acceptable qualities for tap water, while bottled drinking water and mineral were perceived as having relatively higher quality. Tap water was considered cheap in price by all subjects, while bottled drinking and mineral waters were rated acceptable to high by most subjects. Findings of this study exemplify the importance of consumers’ perception on drinking water as a mean of education and communication on quality of drinking water they consume.

Quantitative chemical risk assessment for mixtures: Application to alkylphenol mixtures and phthalate mixtures in tap and bottled water.

Spatiotemporal carbon footprint analysis of bottled water production by ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis

Bottled water like any drinking water used for human consumption should be safe and of standard quality to ensure adequate public health significance.But, the quality of bottled water used for human consumption is not subjected to any stringent quality control measure in Egypt.People buy bottled water for a variety of reasons, including convenience, fashion, and taste or because they think it is safer than tap water.The taste of the water has to do with the way it is treated and the quality of its source, including its natural mineral content.However, taste does not always indicate safeness.The samples were collected by random sampling technique.To asses the quality of bottled water in Al-Qalyubia, Egypt.The present study was carried out to determine the physicochemical, microbiological, sensory quality parameters and the concentration of heavy elements of six brands of bottled drinking water available in Al-Qalyubia and to compare with drinking water guidelines set by the WHO and the Egyptian Standard for bottled water(EOS).The results obtained showed that the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory parameters as well as the concentration of heavy elements in almost all the bottled drinking water were below the permissible limit set by WHO and Egyptian Standard (EOS).Hence, all the tested bottled water samples are safe for drinking purpose..

The production and consumption of plastic bottled water have several negative environmental impacts worldwide. To identify the barriers and motivations for drinking tap and bottled water, we conducted a nationally representative questionnaire survey among 3411 respondents in the Czech Republic in 2022. People aged 18–34 are moderate consumers of bottled water and very frequent consumers of tap water. Bottled water consumption tends to be less frequent among people with a higher education, while tap water consumption is less frequent among people with lower incomes. The most important factors that explain the frequency of drinking bottled and tap water are taste perception, health concerns and habit. Health concerns about tap water and the unpleasant taste of tap water increase the consumption of bottled water. People with a strong habit of drinking tap water are less likely to consume bottled water. The constructs from the theory of planned behaviour were statistically significant. The results can guide decision-makers in promoting tap water to consumers. To encourage tap water drinking, we suggest measures to increase the availability of tap water in public places in conjunction with campaigns targeting the taste and health perception, as well as the habit, of drinking tap water.