A study published online on October 27, 2014 in the peer-reviewed journal Environment International finds hormone-like activities in bottled waters sold in Southern Spain. Real and colleagues investigated 29 water samples packaged in plastic and glass bottles to determine their hormonal activity. Two bioassays were employed to detect (anti)androgenic and/or (anti)estrogenic activity. At least one of the four hormonal activities was measured in each sample. In detail, 79%, 41%, 38%, and 28% of the samples exhibited estrogenic, anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and androgenic activity, respectively. The authors therefore conclude that the consumption of water packaged in both plastic and glass bottles contributes to human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Further, they stress that the packaging itself is not the only source of contamination and other factors, such as the water source and bottling process, may play a role. Finally, they call for further research to investigate the cumulative effects of long-term and low-dose exposure to EDCs.
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Real, M. et al. (2015). “Screening of hormone-like activities in bottled waters available in Southern Spain using receptor-specific bioassays.” Environment International, 74, 125–135.
