Detection of Microbial and chemical contaminants of the plastic bottled drinking waters.

Abstract

AbstractThe study included 47 products of domestic and imported drinking water packed in different plastic bottles. The study focused on two aspects; the first deals with detecting for microbial contaminants in water, accounting the total number of aerobic bacteria, signs of pollution bacteria that represented in Coliform Group, Streptococcus Sp., yeasts, molds and, parasites as well. The second aspect concentrates on detecting inorganic chemical pollutants to include toxic mineral elements like; Chrome, Copper, Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Magnesium and, Iron. The value of pH and TDS has estimated as well. The morphological tests demonstrated that 27 product of the tested samples were polluted and invalid for human consumption in a failure rate reached to 57.5% of the total samples. The tests included that, out of 20 sample, 18 product of drinking water packed in plastic bottles capacity 20 liter were polluted by signs of pollution bacteria, molds and, elementary free-livings protozoa, in a rate of 90%. Whilst samples of drinking water packed in plastic bottles capacity 1.5 liter showed that, out of 12 sample, 5 product were polluted by signs of pollution bacteria in a rate of 41.7%. Out of 15 product, 4 sample of drinking water packed in plastic bottles capacity 500ml were polluted by bacteria and molds, in a rate of 26.7%. Detecting results for inorganic chemical pollutants demonstrated that concentration of toxic elements for entire samples of study were within limits allowed and, free from organic chemical pollutants as well. The values of pH for all samples ranged between 6.5–8.4 and, 33–524 mg/l for TDS which falls within the limits allowed by the Iraqi Standard of Packed Drinking Water No. IQS,1937/1995.