A recent study by Wagner and Oehlmann (2009) has analysed commercially available mineral water and detected estrogenic contamination in 60 percent of all samples. Estrogens function as the primary female sex hormones. The authors conclude that consumption of mineral water may therefore contribute to the overall exposure of humans to endocrine disruptors (substances that interfere with the endocrine system). It is probable that this estrogenic contamination originates from plastic food packaging materials because water bottled in glass was less affected.
More information:
Abstract of the article in “Environmental Science and Pollution Research“
http://www.springerlink.com/content/515wg76276q18115/
Media reports
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/41628/title/Bottled_water_may_contain_%E2%80%98hormones%E2%80%99_Plastics
http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news304868
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