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Contribution of Drinking Water Softeners to Daily Phosphate Intake in Slovenia

Author

Listed:
  • Gregor Jereb

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Borut Poljšak

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Ivan Eržen

    (Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Abstract

The cumulative phosphate intake in a typical daily diet is high and, according to several studies, already exceeds recommended values. The exposure of the general population to phosphorus via drinking water is generally not known. One of the hidden sources of phosphorus in a daily diet is sodium polyphosphate, commonly used as a drinking water softener. In Slovenia, softening of drinking water is carried out exclusively within the internal (household) drinking water supply systems to prevent the accumulation of limescale. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of sodium phosphates in the drinking water in Slovenia in different types of buildings, to determine residents’ awareness of the presence of chemical softeners in their drinking water, and to provide an exposure assessment on the phosphorus intake from drinking water. In the current study, the presence of phosphates in the samples of drinking water was determined using a spectrophotometric method with ammonium molybdate. In nearly half of the samples, the presence of phosphates as water softeners was confirmed. The measured concentrations varied substantially from 0.2 mg PO4/L to 24.6 mg PO4/L. Nearly 70% of the respondents were not familiar with the exact data on water softening in their buildings. It follows that concentrations of added phosphates should be controlled and the consumers should be informed of the added chemicals in their drinking water. The health risks of using sodium polyphosphate as a drinking water softener have not been sufficiently investigated and assessed. It is highly recommended that proper guidelines and regulations are developed and introduced to protect human health from adverse effects of chemicals in water intended for human consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregor Jereb & Borut Poljšak & Ivan Eržen, 2017. "Contribution of Drinking Water Softeners to Daily Phosphate Intake in Slovenia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1186-:d:114186
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karen Van den Bussche & Diana Herrmann & Stefaan De Henauw & Yiannis A. Kourides & Fabio Lauria & Staffan Marild & Dénes Molnár & Luis A. Moreno & Toomas Veidebaum & Wolfgang Ahrens & Isabelle Sioen, 2016. "Urinary Mineral Concentrations in European Pre-Adolescent Children and Their Association with Calcaneal Bone Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Pravst, Igor, 2011. "Risking public health by approving some health claims? - The case of phosphorus," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 725-727, October.
    3. Pravst, Igor, 2011. "Risking public health by approving some health claims? – The case of phosphorus," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 726-728.
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