Hormone-disrupting chemical detected in bottled water

Many of us prefer to drink bottled water, swayed by the belief that it is fresher and better for us. But now, researchers have uncovered an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) in commercialized bottled water, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE.

EDCs are man-made compounds that are commonly used in many plastics. The compounds have been found to interfere with the hormonal systems of several organisms, particularly reproductive systems.

In 2010, Medical News Today reported on a study which revealed that adults who had been exposed to EDCs prenatally may be ay higher risk of breast cancer, after a mice study revealed the compound could program a fetus for life.

It is known that many types of EDCs are in plastics used to store food and water. Most recently, one EDC called Bisphenol A (BPA) was found to be present in the plastic used to make baby bottles.

For this most recent study, the researches wanted to see if EDCs were seeping into commercialized bottled water and if so, to find out which ones they were.


The research team conduced a review of data from previous studies, as well as a review of 18 bottled water products to see if there was evidence of compounds that block estrogen activity (antiestrogenic), as well as activity that would prevent any biological effects (antiandrogenic).

Results of the sample analysis showed that 13 bottles of water demonstrated antiestrogenic activity, while 16 of the bottles showed antiandrogenic activity.

[link to www.medicalnewstoday.com]