An article on a study about bottled mineral water received quite a lot of attention the other day in the German press. Researchers from the Frankfurt University claimed that they had found substances acting like hormones in a number of samples. 12 out of 20 brands were contaminated, they said. Researchers also believed that they had found the source of contamination: At least partly the hormones were alleged to have come from the plastic bottles.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has now published a first review of the study. They say that there is no need for the consumer to stop using plastic bottles. BfR says that they know of no substances used in the production of PET bottles that could migrate into the mineral water and be the reason for an effect similar to oestrogen. From the results presented in the study, BfR says that it makes no difference whether the mineral water is packaged in glass or in plastics.
PlasticsEurope fully agrees with the BfR. The association of plastics manufacturers adds that plastics packaging is safe and controlled by several national and European authorities.
See below the BfR review (in German only) and PET group paper: