Bromate concentrations and pH values in bottled drinking water in Kuwait

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Food Safety
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Bromate is a potential carcinogen that can form during water disinfection.
• Monitoring bromate levels in bottled water is crucial for public health.
• Kuwait's bottled water market includes local and imported brands with varying water sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine bromate concentrations in bottled drinking water sold in Kuwait.
• To investigate the relationship between pH and bromate levels.
• To assess the safety of bottled water based on international standards.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed 120 bottled water samples from Kuwaiti supermarkets in 2019.
• Samples included local distilled/mineral and imported mineral water brands.
• Bromate concentrations and pH values were measured using analytical methods.

Main Results:

• The overall mean bromate concentration was 4.02 µg/L, with local distilled water showing significantly higher levels (4.45 µg/L) than imported mineral water (1.34 µg/L).
• Bromate was detected in 41.7% of samples; locally distilled water had a higher positive rate (35.8%) compared to imported mineral water (5.8%).
• All samples, except one local distilled sample (14.9 µg/L), were below the 10 µg/L international limit; no significant pH-bromate relationship was found.

Conclusions:

• Local and imported bottled water sold in Kuwait is generally safe regarding bromate contamination.
• While locally distilled water showed higher bromate levels, they were mostly within acceptable limits.
• Further monitoring may be warranted for locally distilled water brands.