ABSTRACT
Objective Artificial mineral water pills were made by loading many kinds of trace elements into the ceramic carrier.Pure water could be mineralized after dipping the pills into the water.To assess the possible hazardous effects on the human health induced by the pills,a series of hygienic and toxicological experiments on the pills were carried out.Methods Acute oral toxicity test,micronucleus test of mice bone marrow cells,sperm abnormality test in mice and Ames test were con-ducted.Contents of trace elements,heavy metals and radioactivity in the mineralized water were determined according to the examination methods in Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water and Examination Methods for Drinking Natural Min-eral Water.Results The contents of trace elements,heavy metals and radioactivity in mineralized water met the requirements of GB5749-1985Sanitary Standard for Drinking Water and GB8537-1995Sanitary Standard for Drinking Natural Mineral Wa-ter.Mineral pills were classified as actually non-toxic and the results of micronucleus test of mice bone marrow cells,sperm ab-normality test in mice and Ames test were negative.Conclusion Mineralized drinking water treated by artificial mineral pills were safe.