• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.517-521
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• 2007

To assess possible risks from the consumption of drinking water from various sources, a survey of the microbiological quality of tap water, commercial bottled drinking water which is exploited from natural mineral water, and natural spring water was conducted. A total of 4 different brands of commercial bottled drinking water, and 4 types of spring water from different sources, and tap water from 4 private houses were tested for four index microorganisms, and the microbial quality changes of the water during the storage at room temperature or refrigerated temperature for 7 days. Aerobic plate counts of all of the initial water samples were still within 100 CFU/ml (drinking water standard of Korea). Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli were not detected in all of the water samples at initial. However, aerobic plate counts of three types of spring water and three types of bottled drinking water stored at room temperature showed higher levels than the standards in 5 days. Total coliforms were detected in three types of spring water after one day's storage at room temperature, and in one type of bottled drinking water after 5 days' storage. These results indicate that some of the spring water surveyed are not safe to drink, and the spring water and bottled drinking water after opening the lid should not be stored at room temperature, if they are used for drinking.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2019

Objectives: Although water is essential for life and can supply essential minerals, studies that evaluate calcium intake through drinking water are limited. The aim of this study was to assess calcium contents of natural mineral water (NMW) and its possible contribution to calcium intake in healthy adults. Methods: This study examined water consumption in 640 Korean adults with self-selected diet, analyzed the calcium content of 10 different brands of bottled NMWs sold in Korea, and assessed the amount of calcium intake from drinking water and its daily contribution to the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of calcium. Results: Mean calcium content in 10 bottled NMWs was 20.9 mg/l. Daily water intakes from food composition database and calculated using energy intake based on 0.53 ml/kcal were 957.2 ml and 1109.8 ml for men and 848.3 ml and 951.6 ml for women, respectively, with a significant difference by gender (p<0.001). Daily drinking water intake was significantly higher among men than women (1203.9 ml vs. 1004.3 ml, respectively, p<0.001). Daily calcium intakes from foods were 564.0 mg for men and 534.2 mg for women. Daily possible calcium intakes from drinking bottled water were 25.2 mg for men and 21.0 mg for women (p<0.001). The contribution of daily calcium intake from drinking bottled water to RNI of calcium was 3.3% for men and 2.9% for women without significant difference. Conclusions: One half of the daily total water intake was consumed as drinking water, and possible calcium intake through drinking water was about 3% of RNI.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2024

The demand for bottled water in South Korea is steadily increasing, but there are challenges regarding water sources and violations of water quality standards. Consumers struggle to identify products that do not meet these standards, highlighting the need for improved water management. This study aims to investigate the use of flow cytometry to identify microbial behavior in bottled water. Twelve different bottled water brands were selected for this study. A novel non-culture-based analysis method called total cell count via flow cytometry was utilized, which is not commonly used to assess drinking water quality. This method was compared to conventional culture-based methods for heterotrophic plate count and E. coli experiments, in order to introduce new indicators for hygiene management. Adenosine triphosphate analysis was also conducted to assess cell activity, and total organic carbon was measured to determine the presence of organic matter. The total cell counts varied among the different bottled water brands. The adenosine triphosphate levels ranged from 37.1ng/L to 221.7ng/L, while the total organic carbon ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 mg/L. Furthermore, E. coli was not detected in any of the bottled waters, and with the exception of two cases, the levels of heterotrophic bacteria did not exceed the drinking water standard of 100 CFU/mL. This study demonstrated a correlation between total cell count and heterotrophic plate count, suggesting that non-culture-based analysis could be valuable in promptly assessing microbial contamination, in contrast to the conventional methods that require approximately 48 hours for incubation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.499-508
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• 2017

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate changes in microbiological quality according to various storage conditions in the drinking process of bottled mineral water. Methods: Heterotrophic plate counts ($21^{\circ}C$ and $36^{\circ}C$) and pathogenic indicators (total coliforms, fecal Streptococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, and Shigella) were analyzed in commercial bottled mineral water stored under different conditions ($4^{\circ}C$, $20-25^{\circ}C$, $36^{\circ}C$) after injecting saliva. The heterotrophic plate counts were analyzed twice per day for the first week and once per day for the three weeks after. Pathogenic indicators were analyzed at the beginning and end (initial and final). Results: The results of the microbiological quality of the bottled mineral water in contact with saliva showed that heterotrophic plate counts ($21^{\circ}C$) had a tendency to be sustained or decrease slightly after 10 days. Heterotrophic plate counts ($36^{\circ}C$) had a high population in the initial samples and gradually decreased at $4^{\circ}C$ storage, but it remained constantly high in storage at $20-25^{\circ}C$ and $36^{\circ}C$. In the general drinking condition, the population was slightly higher than the control, but the overall trend was similar. Conclusions: As a result of the microbiological quality of mineral bottled water in contact with saliva during the process of drinking, heterotrophic plate counts ($21^{\circ}C$ and $36^{\circ}C$) showed a high population compared to the control, which was only opened and not in contact with saliva. In some samples, pathogenic indicators were also detected. Therefore, it is desirable to consume bottled mineral water as soon as possible after opening.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.754-761
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• 2012

Several drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) produce the bottled tap waters (BTWs) as pilot production and provide them for noncommercial use. In 2008, acetaldehyde and chloral hydrate were detected in some BTWs and the public worry over the safety of the water. In this study, the BTWs produced from 7 DWTPs were tested for 13 chemicals including disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The level of four trihalomethanes (THMs) were increased up to 15 days. The average concentration of them was 0.0075 mg/L at the time of bottling and it was increased to 0.0214 mg/L after 15 days. The average acetaldehyde concentration was 0.0406 mg/L at the time of bottling but it was went up to 0.2251 mg/L after 11 days and then decreased. Although the initial concentrations of DBPs were below the drinking water standard, we also traced them at different storage conditions. Temperature affected the formations of THMs and acetaldehyde concentrations significantly. While the average concentration of THMs ranged from 0.0113 to 0.0182 mg/L at $25^{\circ}C$, it was increased to 0.0132 ~ 0.0256 mg/L at $50^{\circ}C$. In case of acetaldehyde, concentration ranged from 0.0901 to 0.2251 mg/L at $25^{\circ}C$, it was increased to 0.3394 ~ 1.0591 mg/L at $50^{\circ}C$. Throughout the tests with 7 BTWs samples, none of the chemicals was exceeded the drinking water standard of Korea. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid the exposure of BTWs to sunlight or high temperature during distribution and storage.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2010

This study was performed to compare international analytical methods of bromate and applied to determine bromate in bottled mineral water in Korea. Bromate in bottled mineral water was eluted by 10~50 mM potassium hydroxide (KOH) and determined by ion chromatograph-suppressed conductivity detector (ICCD). Sample was purified with on guard Ba-, Ag- and H-cartridges and $0.2\;{\mu}m$ membrane filter. The method detection limit (MDL) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of bromate were 0.1 and $0.5\;{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The calibration curve showed good lineality above 0.9998 in the ranges of the $0.5\sim40\;{\mu}g/L$. Bromate from 33 samples among total 157 bottled mineral water samples was detected in the concentration range of $0.5\sim6.5\;{\mu}g/L$. The detected concentrations were within bottled mineral water quality criteria ($10\;{\mu}g/L$) in Korea.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.9-27
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• 2018

In recent years, the sales of bottled spring water (BSW) have been drastically increasing in Korea and other countries, which accompanied great interests in conservation and reclamation of natural mineral water (NMW). In this study, management and research activities on NMW in Europe, USA, and Codex Alimentarius were reviewed. In each region, NMW is regulated with its own quality standards that differ from ordinary drinking water, and management actions are strictly implemented to protect water resources and to secure quality of NMW. Many studies on NMW were carried out for monitoring inorganic constituents including major and trace elements in national levels for bottled NMW, groundwater, and tap water in other countries. In Korea, NMW became commercialized in 1995 when BSW was legally approved as a drinking water. To further promote utilization of various types of NMW in Korea, regulations and policies for NMW need to be revised in accordance with international NMW management trends. Further, studies of NMW that compile a comprehensive set of physical and chemical parameters of NMW are also needed to properly understand occurrences, hydrogeological and geochemical processes of NMW, as well as to evaluate its potential use as a natural resource.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.459-467
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• 1997

Due to the growing demand for bottled mineral waters, a study was undertaken to determine the quality of the twenty six brands of domestic and imported drinking waters. The quality of water was evaluated by analyzing the twenty four elements including minerals, essential and/or toxic trace elements, and the analytical items to affect the taste of water. The contribution of drinking water to the mineral nutrition of human was calculated in order to investigate the health effect of drinking water. The taste of water was evaluated in terms of minerals, anions, TDS, alkalinity, hardness and pH.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.561-569
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• 2008

We analyzed contents of cations and anions for the domestic bottled drinking water. Results showed that total cation content was 45.81 mg/L and contained 40% of Ca. The content of cations were decreased in the order of Ca>Si>Na>Mg>K. Total anion content was 12.20 mg/L and contained 90% of ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and $Cl^-$. $F^-$ and $NO_{3-}N$ were a little contained. While Si content was reduced 2.3~75.7%(mean value:38.5%) after freezing, Ca content was reduced 45.2% after boiling. It showed that water containing higher Ca content was significantly decreased after boiling. Precipitates formed by freezing and boiling is composed of minerals such as Si and Ca. Compared to minerals from food intake, concentrations of minerals from water intake are expected to be less influenced. It is recommended Bottled Water that contains more than 20 mg/L of Ca(exceeding water-quality standard for turbidity) is safe to drink without thawing and boiling.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.199-203
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• 2018

Objectives: The market for bottled water is increasing steadily in South Korea. Bottled water contains several naturally occuring minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and fluoride. Fluoride is proven to be effective in preventing dental caries. In South Korea, the maximum permissible concentration of fluoride is 2 ppm for bottled water and 1.5 ppm for tap water. The aim of this study was to investigate the fluoride content of different commercially available brands of bottled water in South Korea, and compare the measured fluoride concentration to the concentration written on the label of each brand of bottled water. Methods: Twenty-seven of the 59 different brands of bottled water produced in South Korea were investigated in this study. Three bottles of each brand were purchased from supermarkets, marts, and convenience stores in each region of Korea in August 2016. For each bottled water brand, the fluoride content was measured three times using a fluoride-ion selective electrode (Orion ionplus Fluoride Electrode 9609, Orion Research, USA). The calibration curve was generated using 0.2 and 2 ppm standard solutions, and confirmed using a 1 ppm standard solution. Results: The mean fluoride content of the 27 brands of bottled water was $0.374{\pm}0.332mg/L$ (range=0.040 to 1.172 mg/L). The fluoride content was labeled by the manufacturer, on each of the tested brands of bottled water. In eight brands, the labeled fluoride content differed from the experimental data. The minimum to maximum fluoride content measured from 10 brands showed a variation of 0.3 mg/L or more when compared to the labeled fluoride content. Conclusions: This study investigated the fluoride content of various brands of bottled water produced in South Korea and compared the measured fluoride levels with fluoride information on the bottle labels. To ensure that consumers are suitably informed regarding their exposure to fluoride, correct labelling of fluoride content in bottled water is important.