Health Implication Associated With Consumption Of Bottled Water Exposed To Sunlight:- Ibong, Ekaete V

ABSTRACT

The pH, nitrite, nitrate and N-Nitrosamine content of five brands of bottled water exposed to sunlight was evaluated using standard procedures. Three sets each offive brands ofbottled water were purchased from local market and divided into three groups (A,B and C). Groups A and B were exposed daily to sunlight for two weeks. The control set (group C) was not exposed to sunlight but was maintained at room temperature. The pH values of the bottled water that was exposed to sunlight ranged from 6.84 to 7.77 while the non-exposed samples ranged from 7.08 to 7.8 respectively. The pH values of the non- exposed bottled water samples were higher than the exposed ones for all the samples. Nitrite concentration of the bottled water ranged from 2.06±0.06 to 2.18±0.01pg/ml and 0.523 to 1.39 pg/ml for the exposed and non-exposed samples respectively. Nitrate and N-Nitrosamine were not detected in the samples. The result suggest that sunlight could acidify bottled water which could affect the consumers.