Arsenic in Bottled Water

Buying bottled water used to be presumptively the best option to ensure you are drinking purified, clean water. Unfortunately, however, recent studies have shown that many bottled water brands contain contaminants that are linked to many serious health complications, such as brain-development issues in children and an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. In fact, recent testing from the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has found “high levels” of arsenic, a contaminant found in the earth’s crust, in some major bottled water brands.This is alarming news for most people, especially if you are one of the many people who believed that all bottled water was tested for purity before sold for public consumption. That being said, although many bottled water companies haven’t taken the appropriate steps to ensure you are getting the highest quality, pure water possible, there are a few bottled water companies that not only meet federal regulations for clean water testing but exceed government standards.

In order to guarantee you are drinking the best quality water, therefore, it is essential that you know which bottled water companies provide the purest, cleanest water available on the planet today. Furthermore, to keep you from backsliding to companies that offer you low quality substitutes, you may want to know what the long-term health risks associated with drinking subpar water brands are and what you can do to ensure you are getting the best quality water on the market today.

How Arsenic in Bottled Water Can Cause Long-Term Health Consequences

Arsenic is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the earth but poses significant health risks when consumed. Like any toxic chemical, the more arsenic is consumed, the greater the potential for dangerous health consequences for human health. And while it's common to be exposed to trace amounts of arsenic through water, air, and foods like seafood, rice, mushrooms, and poultry, many bottled water companies have higher levels of arsenic than what is deemed healthy for humans, especially if consumed for a long duration of time. In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control estimates that the average person is consuming somewhere around 50 micrograms of arsenic daily. While this may cause limited health concerns for the individual, what raises concern is that some of that is coming from inorganic arsenic, the type found in drinking water and the most concerning kind to human health, even considered a human carcinogen to both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

The most unfortunate factor of consuming this contaminated water is what long-term exposure can do to the human body. According to the World Health Organization, long-term exposure can lead to skin, lung, and bladder cancer. Furthermore, the most adverse health effects seem to be experienced by children because their bodies are still vulnerable and in a state of development. Other long-term side effects of heavy arsenic exposure include:

• Diabetes
• Pulmonary disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Adverse pregnancy outcomes
• Infant mortality
• Increased chances of multiple cancers, lung disease, heart attacks, and kidney failure
• Negative effects on cognitive development, intelligence, and memory

These are just a few of the many health consequences that can arise from consuming this dangerous heavy metal.

How to Ensure You are Not Drinking Arsenic in Bottled Water

What can be even more unsettling about bottled water companies containing unhealthy levels of contaminants, is that many of the bottled water brands that contain high levels of arsenic were also fully compliant with FDA standards. This means that even if a company meets government regulations for safe consumption, it does not necessarily mean that you are drinking pure, healthy water. In order to guarantee that your water is the cleanest water available and does not contain high levels of arsenic, it is essential that you figure out how the water was sourced. If the water was taken from groundwater, then your chances of the water being contaminated are greatly increased. However, if the water is sourced from rainwater, the purest source of water available on the planet, then your water will likely be the healthiest form of hydration you can get in bottled form. Furthermore, if the rainwater is taken through rigorous purification processes, you can most likely guarantee that your water source will benefit, not harm your body.

While many companies run their water through subpar purification techniques, there are a few companies that utilize all advanced technological filtration systems in order to ensure you are getting the best, most pure water you can find on the planet delivered right to your body. This is important because if you drink water that isn’t appropriately filtrated, you run a much higher risk of putting unknown contaminants into your body. Because contaminants can cause such adverse health complications, you want to guarantee you are drinking only the cleanest water you can get. Do yourself and your body a favor and make sure the water you are drinking is working for you not against you.

Where to Find Bottled Water Without Any Arsenic In It

Although there are many bottled water brands on the market today that claim to be serving you “pure” water, it is essential that you buy only the most sustainable and purified water available so that your body will reap the benefits that drinking clean water has to provide it with. To find the best and cleanest bottled water brand on the market, make sure you are buying from a brand that guarantees high quality water filtration and purification techniques along with sourcing water from rainwater instead of groundwater. As mentioned previously, groundwater is polluted with heavy metals that no filtration process can entirely remove. Lastly, look at how the water is packaged to ensure you aren’t flooding your body with additional toxic chemicals. Plastic water bottles tend to create hormone imbalances along with a plethora of other health conditions and should be avoided as much as possible.

You don’t need to sacrifice your health when drinking bottled water anymore. Let your bottled water flood your body with all the nutrients it needs to thrive, not with contaminants that hamper its success. Find cloud-harvested, sustainable rainwater that is not only healthy for your body but also tastes delicious today. Your body will thank you.