Health @ Heart
Is bottled water safe?
A new research questions the safety of some bottled water. A study by Dutch researchers on samples from bottled mineral water from 16 countries (not including the United States) "showed evidence of contamination with either bacteria or fungi in 40% of them." Of the 68 samples, 21 grew bacteria (including legionella, the cause of Legionnaire's pneumonia) in laboratory cultures, and 4% grew fungi.
Done at the University Medical Center Nijmegen in the Netherlands, the study analyzed properly-sealed bottled water "from nine European countries and seven others, including Canada, Australia and Mexico."
The researchers stated that "high levels of bacterial contamination in commercially bottled mineral water may pose a health threat to certain people, such as children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer, kidney failure requiring dialysis, diabetes, or AIDS".
Presented recently at the 44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Washington, D.C., these new findings have highlighted the fact that not all brands of purified/filtered bottled water in the market are safe. The question is, are those sold or bottled in the Philippines safe?
Is city water safe to drink?
For majority of people city (tap) water is safe to drink. It is filtered, chlorinated and carefully monitored for bacteria, fungi, etc. However, tourists from other countries, and some local residents not used to drinking city water, may develop gastro-intestinal problems from drinking tap water. Until this new study, all brands of purified/filtered bottled water were accepted as the "healthier drink" over city water. In general, though, until proven otherwise, bottled water is still safer.
What symptoms develop after drinking contaminated water?
Depending on the type and number of bacteria, and how severe the contamination is, the symptoms may range from mild stomachache lasting a few hours to severe diarrhea (with or without vomiting) with varying degrees of dehydration, that could last for days. If untreated, the more severe form of this gastroenteritis may be serious or even fatal, especially among children and the elderly.
What are the usual water contaminants?
There are 3 categories of these contaminants: Inorganic (minerals, which may affect taste of water); Organic (from decaying plants, dirt, sediments, bacteria, amoeba and protozoa); and Synthetic (urban, agricultural and industrial pollutants, such as PCB, DBCP, TCE and others, as well as chlorine and its by-products, all of which contaminants could cause health problems). Unfiltered water has heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead in it. The sources of these pollutants are industrial chemicals and wastes. These are dumped to the rivers and lakes every minute of the day, poisoning our water supplies.
Which is the best water purification system?
Researches have found that Reverse Osmosis and UV light exposure, the most modern system today, is safe and most effective. This technology has a 16-stage state-of-the-art purification system, a United States technology using Automatic Regenerating Process (ARP), most superior when it comes to producing truly safe purified water for healthy drinking. The end product is water that has less than 7 parts per million total dissolved solids, much lower than most, and even better than the EPA standard of 10 parts per million. In this day and age of health-consciousness, buying and drinking purified water is no longer a luxury but an imperative health necessity for everyone. In view of the Dutch study, it behooves the Board of Health and other pertinent agencies to do the necessary studies and closely monitor the quality of bottled water being distributed in the Philippines to safeguard the health of the people. This is not only a legal responsibility but a moral obligation of our government.
(The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities, and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.)
Dr. Philip S. Chua is Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the Chairman of Cardiovascular Surgery of the Cebu Doctors' University Hospital in Cebu City. He is also the Vice-President for Far East Operations of the Cardiovascular Hospitals of America, a hospital builder in Wichita, Kansas. His email address is scalpelpen@gmail.com