Indicadores higiênico-sanitários identificados em águas envasadas, comercializadas na Região Metropolitana de Recife (PE)

Abstract

For the past years, the rising consume og bottled water in Brazil is a fact that is being studied by researchers of different parts of the country. The possible reasons for the case is the fact that bottled water transmits protection to the health, studies confirm different contamination levels in this kind of water. To ensure the health of consumers, it is required a quality standard for the commercialization of this product. An example of this, ministries as the Health Minister (MS) and the National agency of Health sanitization (ANVISA) establish microbiological parameters for the bottled natural mineral water destined to human consumption. For many reasons, it is considered important the information regarding hygienic sanitary indexes presented in the bottled water. This research has the purpose to evaluate the microbiological quality of the bottled water commercialized in the Region of the great Recife (RMR) by means of microbiological analysis of the hygienic sanitary indexes. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Coliforms. There were evaluated 9 different brands of bottled water in 20L package, coded as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I. From each brand there collected 5 samples in the period between August of 2018 and June of 2019, totaling 45 samples. For the microorganisms detection, there were used validated methods by the American Public Health Association (APHA), by the American Waters Works Association (AWWA) and by the Water Environment Federation (WEF). The obtained results confirmed the presence of Pseudomonas in 64% of the samples and of Coliforms in 66% of the samples, what may led to conclude the Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Coliforms can occur in natural mineral water bottled in 20L package commercialized in the RMR; an expressive number of brands showed to be unsafe due to the presence of microorganisms indicators of the hygienic sanitary conditions; the contamination levels by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Coliforms, vary among different brands of bottled water and beside what was found, we can find in the RMR market, mineral water brands that are considered safe, regarding the microbiological aspects. Such results are considered concerning, since the search for bottled water is, mainly, for the apparently guaranteed safety.