A Comparative Study for Some Chemical Properties of Packaged Natural Mineral Water Sold in Sivas (Türkiye)

In the study, some chemical properties of packaged natural mineral water sold in Sivas were researched and compared with sticker values. The paired t-test statistic was used for comparisons between the sticker and laboratory findings. There were statistically significant differences for fluoride (p=0.042*), magnesium (p=0.009**) and sulfate (p=0.000**) between sticker and laboratory findings. The maximum values were observed to be as pH (8.30), calcium (85.60 ppm), chloride (6.60 ppm), fluoride (0.12 ppm), iron (0.03 ppm), magnesium (21.10 ppm), potassium (1.50 ppm), sulphate (8.00 ppm) in sticker findings and pH (8.14), calcium (39.98 ppm), chloride (4.00 ppm), fluoride (0.01 ppm), iron (0.30 ppm), magnesium (23.97 ppm), potassium (0.00 ppm), sulphate (0.00 ppm) in laboratory findings for water samples. These results obtained from all packaged natural mineral water samples were below the proposed standards of national and international for drinking water. At the same time, the fluoride content of packaged natural mineral waters in Sivas was determined to be fairly small which may be detrimental in the health of local inhabitants for dental carries. Hereby, the people of Sivas should be selective when deciding which packaged natural mineral waters to drink.