Ion specificity in determining physico-chemical properties of drinking water

Abstract Drinking water plays a key role in regulating the daily salt intake, thus potentially affecting (either in positive or in negative direction) the incidence of diet-related pathologies, including nephrolithiasis. Being regarded as wholesome, bottled water is increasingly preferred to tap water. However, its physico-chemical characterization, as reported on the label, is usually limited to pH and conductivity measurements, along with ion content. Other parameters, which also are likely to influence the processes in which water is involved in the body, are usually neglected. In this wor...