HIGH CONTENT OF ARSENIC IN ‘JERMUK’ MINERAL WATER MEETS RA GOST: EXPERT

Arminfo
2007-03-14 11:59:00

High content of arsenic in the "Jermuk" mineral water meets RA GOST,
deputy Head of the Sanitary and Antiepidemic Inspection under RA HM,
Marietta Basilisyan, said at yesterday’s press-conference in the
"Urbat" club.

She noted that the "Jermuk" mineral water had dot a status of an
"arsenious mineral water" even at the time of the USSR because of a
high content of arsenic. According to RA GOST, the content of arsenic
in the mineral water should not exceed 0,7 mg per liter. At the same
time, she said, the document, published by FDA, states about 0,5-0,6
mg- content of arsenic per liter. Thus, the expert noted, the content
of arsenic in the "Jermuk" under investigation was even lower than the
GOST-allowed standard. M. Basilisyan underlined that the information
about the investigation, carried out by FDA, was sent to the RA Health
Ministry by the World Health Organization. The expert stressed that
despite the FDA’s statement, saying that "a long use of the "Jermuk"
mineral water may cause a development of cancerous diseases", the WHO’s
statement proves the absence of an information about the cases of the
population’s morbidity with cancer as a result of using the "Jermuk".

Such an ambiguous situation was commented by the Director of the
Scientific-Research Institute of Balneology and Physical Medicine Benik
Harutiunyan. In his opinion, the main reason of FDA’s veto on "Jermuk"
is the absence of a GOST of medical mineral waters in the USA. Thus,
the "Jermuk" under investigation was considered in the category
of a "table water" that, in his opinion, is a gross violation. As
B. Harutiunyan noted, both Armenia and the USA have to revise the
present GOSTs. In particular, the Institute of Balneology had already
came out with an initiative to classify the mineral waters per the
following categories: a natural mineral water, a medical mineral water,
a table water and a spring water. Thus, according to Harutiunyan,
Armenia will talk to the USA in one language.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress