[Halogenated volatile organic compounds in bottled mineral water and soft drinks].

74 mineral natural water samples and 56 samples of different commercial drinks have been analysed by head-space chromatography in order to evidence the presence of volatile halogenated organic compounds (VHO). Trihalomethanes (THM) as drinking water chlorination by-products and trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene as ubiquitarious substances have been investigated. The presence of VHO has been evidenced in 20,3% of mineral natural water samples and in the 58,9% of the commercial soft drinks: this latest group has usually shown higher levels of the investigated compounds. The results of the present study has been compared with a similar study performed in 1991 in the same area: the VHO values observed in the present study appear to be lower than those obtained in the previous study.