Contaminazione di acque minerali imbottigliate in PET conservate in ambiente inquinato da composti organo-alogenati.

PET is the most widespread material (~80%) in use for mineral water bottling. This study is focused on the possibility that pollutants in the environment cross the PET and pollute the water. Mineral water PET-bottles were exposed in closed environment at chloroform, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene vapors and analyzed after 10, 20 and 30 days. The results suggest that: a) The exposition at organo-halogenated compounds produces a water contamination by migration of contaminants trough the PET; b) The 0.5 lt bottles have an higher contamination than 1.5 lt bottles; this phenomenon can be explained by the different contact surface area between water and PET material. In 0.5 lt bottles this contact area is bigger; c) In sparkling waters, the penetration of the environmental contaminants for the high CO2 concentration and for the internal pressure appears limited; d) The bottles with a PET greater thickness showed a lower contamination; e) The migration mechanism of contaminants and new technologies to reduce the PET permeability are still to be investigated.