Title: Bacterial water quality and risk evaluation of bottled drinking water in China

Authors: Jian Pu; Kensuke Fukushi

Addresses: Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan ' Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan

Abstract: In this paper, bacterial water quality of bottled water in China was reviewed. National spot-check results revealed that 17.5% of samples were contaminated, 79.3% of which were due to exceeding microbial level. The annual infectious risk of people drinking bottled water everyday exceeded 1:10000 for all ages. Assuming acceptable risk is 10⁻⁴ per year, it would be considered safe if annual exposure times are less than 78 days. Strict adherence to principles of good manufacturing practices is essential through process control and personal hygiene should be maintained at the processing facility, to reduce the infection risks. Enforcement of the existing regulations and laws is also necessary to achieve this goal. Further research is needed on relationships between common bacteria and pathogens in drinking water, in order to better understand the ecology of microorganisms, and to perform a better health risk analysis for pathogens in bottled water.

Keywords: bottled drinking water; bacteria; E. coli; pathogens; health risk assessment; water quality; China; infection risks; process control; personal hygiene; bottled water.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFSNPH.2016.080442

International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2016 Vol.6 No.1, pp.1 - 13

Received: 01 Jul 2013
Accepted: 12 Jan 2014
Published online: 23 Nov 2016 *

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