Recently, in Indonesia, a social media post regarding the alleged presence of excessive bromate content in bottled drinking water caused a stir online.
Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Zullies Ikawati, has stepped forward to shed light on this issue. According to her, the claims made by the content creator are inaccurate.
Professor Ikawati clarified that bromate is a byproduct formed during the ozonation process used for disinfecting drinking water. It’s not a naturally occurring compound in water and lacks taste or color.
“So, the influencer’s statement suggesting that bromate contributes to the slightly sweet taste, marketed for a bottled drinking water product in Indonesia with the slogan ‘with a hint of sweetness,’ is erroneous because bromate is tasteless,” she explained in a statement received on Monday (Feb. 26).
She elaborated that bromate can be present in water treated with ozone due to a reaction between ozone and natural bromide in the water source.
Bromide contains the negatively charged Bromine (Br) element, which, when ozonized, reacts with ozone (O3) to form the Bromate compound (BrO3).
“Bromate may enter bottled drinking water if the filtration process is inadequate or there’s contamination in the water source. However, the bromate content in bottled drinking water must not exceed ten mcg/L,” she added.
Furthermore, she outlined that based on bromate’s carcinogenic potential, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set the safe limit for bromate at ten ppb (parts per billion) or ten micrograms/liter.
Studies in animals have shown that bromate can induce cancer, but its effects on humans are still unknown. Poisoning from high doses of bromate is rare unless someone ingests chemical liquids containing bromate intentionally or unintentionally.
The effects of bromate poisoning include vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of reflexes, and other central nervous system problems. However, these effects are typically reversible.
In Indonesia, regulations governing beverages and food are overseen by the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), which aligns with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) regulated by the National Standardization Agency (BSN).
For bottled drinking water, particularly mineral water, its registration and supervision adhere to SNI standards, including the regulation of bromate content as per SNI 3553:2015.
Regarding the public response to the issue, Professor Ikawati emphasized that the post is a hoax. Hence, the public is urged to be discerning and seek information from credible experts or sources.
“Instead of blindly believing and spreading unverified information, it’s advisable to consult knowledgeable individuals or sources,” she concluded.
Author: Ika
Image: Freepik.com