Investigation of Antimony Leaching from Bottles (PET) into the Bottled Waters in Fars Province

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is the most common material used in manufacturing mineral water bottles. Antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) used to form the PET containers may pollute water with their ingredients. In this research, graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrometry was used to investigate the effects of storage time (1 to 8 weeks), storage temperature (-20 to 80 °C), pH (6.3 to 8.3), exposure to sunlight, and UV radiation on leaching antimony from PET bottles into the mineral water of 15 bottled water brands available in Fars Province. Concentrations of antimony in the first and second weeks were lower than the maximum standard limit (5 ppb) recommended by Iranian regulations. Antimony concentration in one sample (brand A) rose above the standard limit after four weeks and in 3 samples (brands A, F, and J with antimony concentrations of 5.48, 5.08, and 5.06 µg/L, respectively) exceeded the standard limit after 8 weeks. Sunlight, UV radiation, changes in pH, and storage at temperatures of -20 ℃, 60 ℃, and 80℃ were also found to increase antimony concentrations to levels above the maximum standard limit. Clearly, storing bottled mineral water in ambient conditions may lead to the release of antimony into bottled water, which is a serious threat to public health.