Estimates of Water Ingestion in Formula by Infants and Children Based on USDA's 1994-1996 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals

Assessment of risk to infants and children resulting from the ingestion of contaminants in water is an important component of the analysis of possible environmental hazards. Children and infants represent a sensitive life stage because exposure to contaminants in early life can have developmental and long-lasting adverse effects. Children and infants tend to ingest relatively large amounts of water on a bodyweight-adjusted basis, especially those that are fed in early life with formula that is re-constituted or diluted with water. This article presents statistical estimates of the amounts of community water ingested by formula-fed infants based on nationwide sample survey data that support identification of respondents who consume formula and the amounts of water they ingest. Included are specific estimates of the amounts of community water ingested in formula. Estimates of total community water ingestion by children and infants who consume formula can be especially useful in exposure assessment since they represent a highly exposed population. For example, mean community water ingestion by infants 1 to 3 months of age who consume formula is 627mL/day (136mL/kg/day) and the 95th percentile is 1096mL/day (290mL/kg/day).