Comparative assessment of genotoxicity of mineral water packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass bottles

The potential migration of genotoxic compounds into mineral water stored in polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) bottleswasevaluated by an integrated chemical/biological approachusing
short-term toxicity/genotoxicity tests and chemical analysis. Six commercial brands of still
and carbonated mineral water bottled in PET and in glass were stored at 40 C for 10 days in
a stove according to the standard EECtotal migration test (82/711/EEC), or at roomtemperature
in the dark. After treatment, the samples were analysed using gas-chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC/MS) to detect volatile and non-volatile compounds, the Microtox test to
evaluate potential toxicity of the samples, and three mutagenicity tests – Tradescantia and
Allium cepa micronucleus tests and the Comet assay on human leukocytes – to detect their
genotoxic activity.
GC/MS analysis did not detect phthalates or acetaldehyde in the water samples. The
Microtox test found no toxic effects. Mutagenicity tests detected genotoxic properties of
some samples in both PET and glass bottles. Statistical analyses showed a positive association
between mineral content and mutagenicity (micronuclei in A. cepa and DNA
damage in human leukocytes). No clear effect of treatment and PET bottle was found.
These results suggest the absence of toxic compounds migrating from PET regardless of
time and conditions of storage. In conclusion, bottle material and stove treatment were not
associated with the genotoxic properties of the water; the genotoxic effects detected in
bottled water may be related to the characteristics of the water (minerals and CO2 content).