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

摘要

The potential migration of genotoxic compounds into mineral water stored in polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) bottleswasevaluated by an integrated chemical/biological approachusingshort-term toxicity/genotoxicity tests and chemical analysis. Six commercial brands of stilland carbonated mineral water bottled in PET and in glass were stored at 40 C for 10 days ina stove according to the standard EECtotal migration test (82/711/EEC), or at roomtemperaturein the dark. After treatment, the samples were analysed using gas-chromatography/massspectrometry (GC/MS) to detect volatile and non-volatile compounds, the Microtox test toevaluate potential toxicity of the samples, and three mutagenicity tests – Tradescantia andAllium cepa micronucleus tests and the Comet assay on human leukocytes – to detect theirgenotoxic activity.GC/MS analysis did not detect phthalates or acetaldehyde in the water samples. TheMicrotox test found no toxic effects. Mutagenicity tests detected genotoxic properties ofsome samples in both PET and glass bottles. Statistical analyses showed a positive associationbetween mineral content and mutagenicity (micronuclei in A. cepa and DNAdamage 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 oftime and conditions of storage. In conclusion, bottle material and stove treatment were notassociated with the genotoxic properties of the water; the genotoxic effects detected inbottled water may be related to the characteristics of the water (minerals and CO2 content).