High levels of arsenic found in bottled water

The Center of Environmental Health ( CEH ) found high levels of arsenic in Starkey Water on Tuesday.

Starkey Water is bottled water owned by Whole Foods and Dr Pepper, is sold at Target. CEH found arsenic that was above the level requiring a health level warning in the bottles.

“Consumers are being needlessly exposed to arsenic without their knowledge or consent,” said Michael Green, Chief Executive Officer of CEH . “Customers typically purchase bottled water at exorbitantly high costs with the assumption that it is safer and healthier to drink than tap water, unaware that they are ingesting an extremely toxic metal linked to birth defects and cancer.”

Arsenic is a risk to children because direct exposure can affect mental and physical development, according to CEH . It also poses a risk to pregnant women or women likely to become pregnant.

The metal can also cause a risk to heart disease, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

CEH claims Penafiel , owned by Dr Pepper, has known for years their products contain elevated levels of arsenic and didn’t take any action to inform its consumers or lower the amount of arsenic in its products.

“There is no place for arsenic in bottled water,” said Caroline Cox, Senior Scientist at CEH . ” Bottled water companies need to take the necessary steps to remove this toxic metal from their products, and retailers should stop selling them now. Until those conditions are met, we recommend consumers avoid purchasing Whole Foods’ Starkey and Dr Pepper’s Penafiel . ”

CEH has sent legal notices to the bottled water manufacturers and retailers.