Chemical Contets of Boottled Waters in Turkey and Their Evaluation According to the Health
ABSTRACT: Increase in bottled water consumption in our country has been observed especially in last decade as in developed countries. A lot off irms have materialized the bottled water production particularly in the industrialized and overpopulated areas in Turkey with the high consumption of the bottled water. The number of bottled water production firm is over 180 in Turkey atp resent. In this study, physical and chemicalparameters oft he bottled waters have been evaluated according to the statistical characteristics. Physical and chemical parameters in the bottled water which are sometimes over the limits can negatively affect the human health. Median values oft he bottled waters` chemical parameters have been compared with the limit values designated by The Ministry of Health and interpretations of the over limit parameters have been realized. On the other hand, concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium and sodium (Na) ions, which are present in the major amounts in the bottled water and necessary for the human body, evaluated statistically and interpretedfrom the point of health. Ca, Mg and Na contents of the bottled and tap waters in Turkey have been compared with Europe and North America`s bottled and tap waters. This comparison has showed that these three minerals contents ofo ur bottled waters are poorer but, tap waters are richer than Europe and North America`s. It is understood that recommended daily intake amount of Ca (800 mg/day) and Mg (350 mg/day) for the body can be obtained by the consumption of2 liters per dayfrom the bottled, tap and mineral water in Turkey in the range of2.5% Ca, 8.8% Ca, 35% Caand 1.4 %Mg, 7.5%Mg, 33%Mg, respectively.