Determination of Trace Elements and Human Health Risk Assessment in Bottled Spring Water: Method Validation

Water is necessary for all life and contains minerals which play a major role in the human diet. This study monitors the elemental composition of different brands of bottled spring water marketed in Turkey and discusses the compositional parameters. Spring water samples were analyzed for cesium (Cs), rubidium (Rb), thallium (Tl), cobalt (Co), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), gallium (Ga), vanadium (V), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), uranium (U), thorium (Th), and molybdenum (Mo) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Method accuracy was confirmed by using the SRM 1640A Natural Water certified reference material. The linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, repeatability, and recovery (%) were assessed. According to the results of the spring water analysis, Cd, Cs, Tl, Co, Pb, Ag, and Th were not detected in the samples. However, Rb, As, Cr, Ga, U and Mo were detected in some samples. The results were compared with elemental standards for drinking waters set according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU). The results obtained were compared with permissible levels of Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Hazard Index (HI). The THQ values less than 1 show that there is no major risk of carcinogenic effects to those exposed.