BfR recommends the establishment of a European maximum level for uranium in drinking and mineral water

Uranium is a widespread, radioactive heavy metal on earth. It is to be found in varying concentrations and states in various rocks and minerals as well as in water, soil and air. Uranium may also reach the environment anthropogenically for instance in mineral phosphate fertilisers. Because of its widespread presence traces of uranium can also be detected in foods like drinking and mineral water.  
  
Uranium is not essential for humans. The ongoing intake of higher uranium concentrations can lead to kidney damage because of the chemical toxicity of the substance. The radioactive disintegration products of uranium can cause cancer.   
  
Various institutions have established toxicological limit values for the intake of uranium or elaborated guidance values for still tolerable amounts of uranium in drinking water. In its health assessment of uranium BfR used as the basis the drinking water guideline value of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is 15 microgram (μg) uranium per litre and aims to guarantee a lifelong, tolerable intake. Around 5% of the tested mineral waters were found to have a higher uranium content. These waters may have a negative effect on health if more than half a litre is consumed daily. BfR has repeatedly pointed this out and established a limit value of 2 μg uranium per litre for mineral waters that are advertised for the preparation of infant formula. This value has since been taken over into international legislation.  
  
On the European level there is no uniform maximum level for uranium in food, particularly in drinking and mineral water. BfR recommends the health assessment of uranium and the establishment of a value of this kind by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).