Did you ever consider that the rising percentage of diseases like hepatitis and typhoid can be directly linked to what you consume especially the water you drink? Deceiving by fancy packaging and being sold at premium rates – components of self-proclaimed mineral water can be a possible reason for the health implications we are facing.
Famed mineral water brands have already been under hot fire as the studies and research in the sphere progressed. According to a recent research carried out by PCRWR, Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources, eight mineral water brands have been declared completely unsafe for human consumption.
The PCRWR results are publicized after reviewing the quality of mineral water quarterly. As per the report from January to March, 110 samples of mineral and bottled water were collected from various cities: Karachi, Quetta, Tandojam, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Islamabad.
After thoroughly reviewing the collected samples and comparing them with PSQCA (Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority) – eight brands were declared unsafe as they didn’t meet the quality standards.
The brands are: Aab-e-Noor, Pure 18, Aqua Gold, Zam, Livon, Pure Aqua, Aqua Fine and Edlen Premium.
Among these brands, Aqua Fine had the highest level of arsenic, 20 ppb (parts per billion) in contrast to 10 ppb permissible by PSQCA.
Other 3, Livon, Pure Aqua and Edlen Premium were declared unsafe as the study found high levels of sodium in them. The figures were 57 to 60 ppm (parts per million) in comparison with 50 ppm permissible.
The left 4 brands, Aab-e-Noor, Pure 18, Aqua Gold and Zam were declared contaminated due to microbiological contamination – that can potentially cause diseases like typhoid, hepatitis, cholera etc.
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