Calculations of deaths caused by magnesium-deficient bottled
water in California
In 1992 the total bottled water consumption in the U. S. was
about 2.2 billion gallons (1), and California's consumption of
bottled water was about 660 million gallons.
Assuming that the total liquid consumption in the California
(RDA) is 182.5 gallons per annum per person, that figure can be
multiplied by about 30,000,000 population, which gives
5,475,000,000 gallons per annum of all liquids consumed in
California. So in California bottled water accounted for about
twelve percent of all liquids consumed, versus a national average
of 5.4 percent (2).
There are two ways of calculating the number of deaths per
annum in California due to magnesium-deficient bottled water.
Method #1. This method considers only the deaths of a small
subset, limited by age and sex. Divide California's population of
30,000,000 by the U. S. population of 250,000,000 which gives
twelve percent. Multiply .12 times the U.S. Deaths (subset) in
1994 from Mg deficiency (3) which is 225,898 and that gives
27,467. Then multiply that again by .12 (representing the
proportion of bottled water to other drinks, and that gives 3,296
deaths per annum in California from magnesium-deficient bottled
water. This method most certainly understates the total deaths in
California from Mg-deficient bottled water.
Method #2. Multiply twelve percent (proportion of bottled
water to other drinks) times California's population of
30,000,000 which gives 3,600,000. Multiply that by the projected
death rate (3) of .003465, which gives 12,474 deaths per annum in
California from magnesium-deficient bottled water. This method
represents the entire population, including the high risk groups
of infants and the aged. This method may overstate or understate
the deaths, if the benchmark death rate should prove to be
inapplicable to all age and sex group.
Summary: Annual deaths in California from magnesium-deficient
bottled water are at least 3,296 (for a limited subset), and may
exceed 12,474 (for the entire population).
June 17, 1994
Ray Tackaberry, P.O. Box 1417, Patterson, CA 95363
REFERENCES
1. Beverage Marketing Corp. Beverage World, Oct 93, p 48.
2. John C. Maxwell Jr., Wheat First Securities, Beverage
Industry, 1993-1994 Annual Manual, p 12.
3. Mason, P., publication pending, Calculations of American
Deaths from Magnesium Deficiency, As Projected from International
Data, 1/5/94, p 2. Order from: Ray Tackaberry, P. O. Box 1417,
Patterson, CA 95363 USA. Available free.
This page was first uploaded to The Magnesium Web Site on
September 30, 1995
http://www.mgwater.com/
Healthy Water
Association--USA