STAFF REPORT KHI: The Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has revealed that 31 brands of bottled drinking water are found to be unsafe for human use due to chemical or microbiological contamination.
According to the monitoring report for the quarter (January-March, 2013), 87 samples of mineral/bottled water brands were collected from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sialkot, Multan, D.G.Khan, Tandojam, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Gilgit.
The brands found unsafe included Nectar, Splash dew, Italian Crystal, Atlantis Premium Water, Hydr8, Fresco Healthy Water, Unique Water, Pan Pura, Oriel, Kalash Pure Water, Premier Pure Water, Nation, Aqua Cool, Kallan Water, A Cool, Aqua National, Al-Shifa Water, Active, Sparkling, Danni pure Water, Healthy Water, Vey, Standard, Vina, ECO Water, Rhine Blue, Orion, Sunlay, Blue Danube, Prime Pani and Jel.
While the contaminated water brands were Unique Water, Pan Pura, Oriel, Kalash Water, Premier Pure Water, Nation, Aqua Cool, Kallan Water, A Cool, Aqua National, Al-Shifa Water and Active, which have high level of Arsenic ranging from 18-379 ppb, the report says.
Nectar, Splash dew, Italian Crystal, Atlantis Premium Water, Hydr8, Fresco Healthy Water, Kallan Water, Sparkling, Dannipur Water, Healthy Water, Vina, ECO Water, Rhine Blue, Orion, Sunlay, Blue Danube, Prime Pani and Jel) have been found contaminated microbiologically which can cause Cholera, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Hepatitis and Typhoid.
“Usage of such water can leave hazardous impacts on health, as it can cause cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, heart diseases birth defects and black foot diseases,” said an official of the PSQCA requesting anonymity.