Stable Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotope Characteristics of Bottled Water in China: A Consideration of Water Source

The origin of bottled water can be identified via its stable isotope signature because of the spatial variation of the stable isotope composition of natural waters. In this paper, the spatial pattern of H-2 and O-18 values were analyzed for a total of 242 bottled water samples produced at 137 sites across China that were randomly purchased during 2014-2015. The isotopic ratios of bottled water vary between -166 parts per thousand and -19 parts per thousand for H-2, and between -21.6 parts per thousand and -2.1 parts per thousand for O-18. Based on multiple regression analyses using meteorological and geographical parameters, an isoscape of Chinese bottled water was created. The results showed that altitude among spatial parameters and precipitation amount and air temperature among meteorological parameters were major natural factors determining the isotopic variation of bottled water. Our findings indicate the potential and the significance of the use of stable isotopes for the source identification of bottled water. An analysis of different origin types (spring, glacier and unmarked) and several different brands of bottled water in the same location reflected different production processes and source signatures.