Physicochemical properties of some bottled water brands in Alexandria governorate, Egypt

Many people use bottled water instead of tap water for many reasons such as taste, ease of carrying, and thinking that it is safer than tap water. Irrespective of the reason, bottled water consumption has been steadily growing in the world for the past 30 years. In Egypt, this is still increasing to reach 3.8 l/person/day, despite its high price compared with tap water. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical quality of some bottled water brands and to compare the quality with that reported on manufacture's labeling, Egyptian, and International standards. Fourteen bottled water brands were selected from the local markets of Alexandria city. Three bottles from each brand were randomly sampled, making a total sample size of 42 bottles. Sampling occurred between July 2012 and September 2012. Each bottle was analyzed for its physicochemical parameter and the average was calculated for each brand. The results obtained were compared with the Egyptian standard for bottled water, Food and Drug Administration [FDA], and with bottled water labels. In all bottles in the study, pH values ranged between 7.21 and 8.23, conductivity ranged between 195 and 675 micro s/cm, and total dissolved solids, sulfate, chloride, and fluoride were within the range specified by the FDA. Calcium concentrations ranged between 2.7373 and 29.2183 mg/l, magnesium concentrations ranged between 5.7886 and 17.6633 mg/l, sodium between 14.5 and 205.8 mg/l, and potassium between 6.5 and 29.8 mg/l. For heavy metals such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese, all of them were in conformity with the Egyptian standards and FDA, but nickel concentration in 11 brands was higher than the Egyptian standards. Twelve brands were higher than the Egyptian standards in cadmium concentration, but on comparison with FDA there were only five brands exceeding limits. Lead concentrations were out of range for all brands. On comparison with the labeled values, the quality of bottled water was not complying with labeled values. Physicochemical parameters in all bottled water examined brands were consistent with the Egyptian Standard and FDA, except for total dissolved solids, nickel, cadmium, and lead. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference [P<0.05] in all parameters tested between different brands. Values on the bottled water labels were not in agreement with analytical results

Evaluation of lithium genotoxicity

This study was conducted on twenty patients having manic-depressive psychosis and treated by lithium for a period from 1-5 years. Determination of serum lithium level was done to all patients [n=20] using flame photometer. Heparinized venous blood [5ml] was withdrawn from every patient. The following genotoxic assays were performed; assay of sister chromatid exchanges [SCEs] frequencies in cultured human leucocytes and in vivo -in vitro analysis of human karyotype. The genotoxic assays performed on mice included micronucleus test [MNT] and analysis of chromosomal aberrations in mice bone-marrow cells. The present study showed that serum lithium level ranged from 0.37 to 1.07 mEq/L with a mean of 0.77 +/- 0.18 mEq/L. The study revealed a statistically insignificant increase in the frequencies of SCEs in cultured human leucocytes, while a significant in crease of structural chromosomal aberrations was observed in the form of sticky chromosomes, eroded chromosomes, acentric and deletions. In mice, lithium carbonate has a weak clastogenic effect upon mice chromosomes when used in a therapeutic dose, but it has a definite clastogenic effect when administered in a dose more than the therapeutic dose as demonstrated by the significant increase in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and structural chromosomal aberrations. The present study proved the clastogenic potentiality of lithium carbonate

In vivo induction of sister chromatid exchanges analysis of mice bone-marrow chromosomes, primary spermatocytes and micronucleus test: accurate cenotoxic bioassays for DNA damage induced by the drug alexoprine

Accurate genotoxic bioassays for measuring DNA damage [in vivo induction of sister chromatid exchanges, analysis of mice bone marrow chromosomes, analysis of mice primary spermatocytes, and micronucleus test] were employed and used. Analysis of sister chromatid exchange frequencies revealed that Alexoprine is capable of inducing primary DNA damage. The results showed that the tested drug has clastogenic activity upon mice bone marrow chromosomes. Analysis of mice primary spermatocytes revealed that Alexoprine is capable of affecting the germinal cells. Analysis of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes presented an evidence that Alexoprine is a clastogenic agent. The tested drug Alexoprine is capable of inducing primary DNA damage, as SCEs revealed it has clastogenic activity upon somatic and germinal cells as well