Fungi in bottled water

Abstract

A B S T R A C TBottled water is a product considered safe, although studies already proved fungi incidence even of potential pathogens. The Brazilian legislation does not set limits for this microorganism in water for human consumption, limiting only for bacteria. This study evaluated the fungi contamination in bottled water commercialized in the region of the city of Recife-PE, Brazil. The samples were collected between September and December of 2016. It was used 35 samples from seven companies, different lots, bottled in 500 mL polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and coded from A to G and analyzed to fungi counting by mean of pour plate technique using acidified Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) at pH 4.0 and incubated to 25°C ± 2°C for up to seven days, accordingly to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater Methodology. pH data from the samples were obtained by information containing in the labels from the packages. It was observed the fungi presence in 20 samples (57.1%). From the positive samples, there were identified filamentous fungi in 14 (70%), only yeast in 1 (5%), and both in 5 (25%). Packages were considered contamination source. The predominant filamentous fungi in each sample were isolated, purified and submitted to morphological identification at the genus level. The results showed that Aspergillus spp., moreover, Penicillium spp., can be water contaminants. The samples pH, around 5.0, might have contributed for the found fungi maintenance. The filamentous fungi found may be pathogenic or toxigenic, which represents a risk to public health.

Mycological Investigation of Bottled Water Dispensers in Healthcare Facilities

“…These devices are intensively used in public buildings, workplaces and in health institutions worldwide. However, in several studies fungal contaminations of bottled water were detected [ 3 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”