October 15, 2008

What's in your Bottle?




It’s been drilled in our heads for years that bottled water is so much better for you than tap water. Even with all the yucky stuff found in tap water is bottle water any better? According to a recent study some bottled water has the same and in some cases more contaminants than tap with 10 times the cost. Whoever came up with the idea to charge ridiculous amounts for something we all can very well get for free. It’s insane that we have fallen victim to the myth and constant lies in our society.

Researchers tested one batch for each of 10 brands. Eight did not have contaminants high enough to warrant further testing. But two brands did, so more tests were done and those revealed chlorine byproducts above California's standard, the group reported. The researchers identified those two brands as Sam's Choice sold by Wal-Mart and Acadia of Giant Food supermarkets.

The researchers also said the Wal-Mart brand was five times California's limit for one particular chlorine byproduct, bromodichloromethane. The environmental group wants Wal-Mart to label its bottles in California with a warning because the chlorine-based contaminants have been linked with cancer. It has filed a notice of intent to sue.

Wal-Mart said its own studies did not turn up illegal levels of contaminants. Giant Food officials released a statement asserting that Acadia meets all regulatory standards. Acadia is sold in the mid-Atlantic states, so it isn't held to California's standard. In most places, bottled water must meet roughly the same federal standards as tap water.

So where will your next drink come from?

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