Study of Microbial Quality and Heavy Metal Determination in 15 Brands of Iranian Bottled Drinking Water During 2009-2010

Nowadays, demand for bottled water consumption is growing in most countries especially in Iran. Over 100 different brands of bottled water are produced and distributed in Iran. In order to protect consumer health, the microbial and chemical quality monitoring of such water has great importance. This study aimed to survey the quality of 15 high consumed brands of bottled water in Iran. This research is a descriptive-analytical and cross- sectional study which carried out on 15 brands of bottled water during 2009-2010. As a whole 60 samples (1.5 liter) were purchased randomly from supermarkets during four seasons. Samples were analyzed to determine residual chlorine, microbial quality and heavy metal concentrations according to standard methods. No total and fecal Coliform were found in all samples. Concentration of chromium, cadmium, lead, nickel, copper, zinc, and silver in all examined samples ranged from 0.24 to 2.77, 0.15 to 6.00, 0.37 to 10.4, 0.13 to 2.01, 0.24 to 3.21, 0.55 to 2.03, and 0.12 to 1.55 μgl-1, respectively. Microbial quality and heavy metal concentration in all studied brands were in compliance with Iranian and US EPA standards, and WHO guidelines, so there is no public health concerns regarding consumption of bottled water.