Some brands of bottled water imported from Armenia contain 50 to 60 times the allowed level of a toxin known to cause cancer in humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

Certain brands of Jermuk bottled water contain 500 to 600 micrograms of arsenic per litre, the FDA said. The agency allows a maximum of 10 micrograms per litre.

The FDA said consumers should avoid the water. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said it is trying to determine if the brand was imported into Canada.

The Jermuk brands, which were distributed across the United States and have been recalled, include:

• Jermuk Original Sparkling Natural Mineral Water Fortified With Natural Gas From The Spring, imported by Zetlian Bakery Inc. of Pico Rivera, Calif.
• Jermuk Sodium Calcium Bicarbonate and Sulphate Mineral Water, imported by Importers Direct Wholesale Co. of  Los Angeles.
• Jermuk, Natural Mineral Water Sparkling, imported by Kradjian Importing Co. of Glendale, Calif.

The FDA said it found the arsenic by sampling 500 millilitre green glass bottles. It's looking into whether other sizes or packaging are involved.

There are no known cases of exposure, but acute exposure to arsenic initially can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Over a few days to weeks, it can affect the kidneys, liver, skin, and cardiovascular and nervous systems. "Extended exposure could lead to cancer and death," the FDA said.

Symptoms of acute exposure usually occur shortly after consumption.