Chemical Components of Noncommercial Alcohol Beverage Samples: A Study With the Viewpoint of Toxic Components in Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

BackgroundIran has one of the lowest alcoholic beverage use rates in comparison with other countries, because it is legally forbidden and because of religious beliefs. Even so, unrecorded and noncommercial alcohol remains a considerable concern, which needs special attention.ObjectivesIn the current research, we have studied the general composition of noncommercial alcohol samples to identify potentially toxic components in the context of the city of Mashhad in IR Iran.Patients and MethodsUsing a descriptive study, chemical composition records of alcohol samples obtained from Mashhad and its suburbs (from March 2013 to March 2014) were evaluated in terms of ethanol percentage and methanol percentage using gas chromatography. Likewise, the pH of the alcohol and the location of the sample were also considered. Some substances, such as inorganic elements, were not included because there was no information about these substances in the records.ResultsOf 877 reports of alcohol samples, more than 50% were obtained from Mashhad and the rest were from the suburbs. Of the reports, 57.5% were in the spring and summer, followed by 42.5% in the fall and winter. The mean (min-max) of ethanol percentage was 30.04% (0 - 98.4). In four cases, methanol was detected. The mean (min-max) of methanol percentage was 23% (4 - 95).The majority of the samples had an acidic pH.ConclusionsThe composition of unrecorded samples did not raise major toxicological concern beyond ethanol in alcohol products. However, concentration levels of methanol in some unrecorded alcohol samples made these samples detrimental for human consumption.

Analyzing Toxic Chemical Components in Illegal Alcoholic Beverages

“…In our study, the organoleptic examination findings highlighted that the pH of the majority of alcoholic beverages was acidic. This data was consistent with that of a previous study [14]. The acidity nature of alcoholic beverages, especially fermented types, is due to the presence of organic acids, such as acetic acid, maleic acid, or tartaric acid [14].…”

“…The determination of ethanol concentration in legal alcoholic beverages is a crucial control point from safety and economic concerns [19]. Previous studies have indicated that illegal and unrecorded alcoholic products have higher ethanol levels than those of the legal production [9,14]. These findings are in concordance with our study in which the ethanol mean concentration was detected as 24%v/v.…”

“…A significant data obtained in the current study was detecting methanol in 6% of the analyzed samples; a majority of them (67%) had a toxic concentration of methanol. A study in Mashhad City, Iran detected methanol in only <0.5% (4 samples among a total of 886 samples) of the explored beverages [14]. There was an obvious rise in the frequency of methanol contaminated alcoholic beverages in Iran.…”

“…It might also be added to the alcoholic beverage as an adulterant. Acetone was not reported as a chemical component in a previous study [14]. Generally, acetone has a less toxicity potential in human and is moderately toxic to the liver; however, experimental studies revealed that acetone potentiates the liver toxicity of some chemicals by inducing microsomal enzymes which metabolize other chemicals to reactive toxic intermediates [21].…”

“…Annually, several cases of methanol poisoning and fatality induced by illegal and homemade alcoholic beverages consumption are reported in Iran. However, there are scant data on the chemical composition of these beverages in Iran [14,15].…”