Why Mineral Water Can Be Dangerous

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

It is a common practice for Bulgarian consumers to buy bottled mineral water from stores. There are several reasons for this. First of all, people do not trust the quality of drinking water that flows from domestic taps. Others believe that consuming mineral water is good for health, and others - others do it just out of habit.

According to the Association of Producers of Soft Drinks in Bulgaria consumption of mineral water increases by 12-15% per year. And if in 1990 the average Bulgarian citizen consumed only 8 liters of mineral water per year, then in 2013 there were 54 liters of mineral water per person.

Prolonged use of mineral water also has its risks. According to the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria, 13 well-known Bulgarian brands of mineral water have a content of fluorine over 4 mg / l. Their share in the total production of bottled mineral water on the territory of the country is 33 percent.

After the Bulgarian brands mineral water Hissar has the highest fluoride content. Its content is 5 mg / l, which is the upper limit of fluoride content in water according to the European Health Association. Other fluoride-saturated waters are of Devin brand (excluding the pink version, which is suitable even for infants), Mihalkovo, Velingrad, Rakitovo and others.

Skeptics will say: This is another PR campaign. Another brand is trying to increase sales, etc., and they will be wrong. The indiscriminate use of mineral water with a high fluoride content can be dangerous to your health.

For years, dentists and doctors have been arguing fiercely in public about the benefits and harms of using fluoridated water. Dental specialists support the thesis that regular intake of fluoride compounds has a positive effect on the strength of teeth and reduces the risk of caries.

Humane doctors do not dispute the claim of their colleagues, but claim that taking fluoride can do more harm to the body than its supposed benefits. According to doctors, excessive fluoride intake can lead to the development of dental fluorosis.

The teeth acquire a characteristic yellow-brown color, the structure of the enamel is broken and they become more brittle. Systemic fluoride overdose can lead to the development of bone fluorosis, in which the structure of the bone substance is disrupted and a person's bones become brittle and easily broken.

A number of studies have concluded that fluoride can cause more severe and permanent damage.

According to Dr. Phyllis Mulinex of the Forsyth Dental Center in Boston, fluorides are toxic to the central nervous system, especially in children. Other studies have linked fluoride overdose to reduced fertility in both sexes.

Then how much and what kind of water to drink? The first thing you need to do is realize that you don't have to trust the ads 100%. The amount of water a person needs per day is strictly individual and depends on age, weight, physical activity, etc. and all mantras such as: "It is mandatory to consume at least 2-3 or 5 liters per day" are invented solely for the purpose of buying more water.

As for its type - be especially careful when choosing bottled mineral water. If you consume no more than 1 liter of mineral water per day, then it will not be a problem to choose one with a fluoride content of more than 4 mg / l.

However, if you like to drink water and your consumption exceeds 1 liter per day, it is recommended to stay on water with a fluoride content below 1.5 mg / l. After 2009, all producers were required to indicate a warning on the label if the water had a fluorine content of more than 1.5 mg / l.

The next time you see the warning on the label of the mineral water bottle: “It contains fluoride above 1.5 mg / l. and is not suitable for daily use by children under 7 years of age”it is good to read more carefully in ethics and pay attention to the fluoride content.