Lead contamination of fruit spirits intended for own consumption as a potential overlooked public health issue? A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse the occurrence of lead in selected samples of fruit distilled spirits for own consumptions in terms of possible contribution to the occurrence of alcohol-attributable diseases. Methods: In a pilot study, we analysed 18 samples of fruit spirits for own consumption. Most of the samples were distilled in the local growing distilleries in the Žilina Region with exception of 3 samples collected in the Trnava Region (one of them was of Hungarian origin). Sample preparation included previous mineralization with use of microwave decomposition system Multiwave 60 50 Hz. The samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy with graphic furnace (AAS GBC XplorAA 5000 with GF 5000). Results: The average ethanol level in our samples was higher in comparison with distributed spirits. We detected lead in all samples. In two of them the concentration was lower than the limit of quantitation (LOQ). The highest lead concentrations were observed in plum spirit from Hungary (581.0 μg/l), and in grape spirit made in the Trnava Region (466.3 μg/l). Conclusions: Lead is a widespread contaminant of fruit spirits prepared for own consumption. Taking into consideration its common occurrence and possible multiplicative effect with ethanol, we can assume that lead can contribute to the occurrence of several alcohol-attributable chronic diseases. Due to the insufficient information in this field, our results provide significant insight into the issue and present an important starting point for further research.

Is There a Need for Alcohol Policy to Mitigate Metal Contamination in Unrecorded Fruit Spirits?

“…The prevalence was much higher than in the current largest sample of European unrecorded alcohol from the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA) project (n = 115, prevalence lead: 53%; cadmium: 1%) [19,20]. However, the new studies [6,7] did not provide a quantitative risk assessment for the metals. Therefore, this article aims to provide such a risk assessment based on their data [6,7] using the margin of exposure (MOE) methodology [23,24].…”

“…The methodology for comparative risk assessment of compounds in alcoholic beverages using the margin of exposure method according to Lachenmeier et al [25][26][27] was applied. Literature data about the occurrence of lead and cadmium in unrecorded alcohol according to Tatarková et al [6,7] was used. For exposure scenarios, average and maximum concentrations of the compounds according to these studies [6,7] were applied.…”

“…This may be due to illegal or informal production, cross-border shopping, as well as the use of surrogate alcohol not originally intended for human consumption (e.g., automotive products, cosmetic or medicinal alcohol) [1][2][3][4]. In some countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Balkans, the majority of unrecorded alcohol consumption may derive from home production of spirits from sugar-containing fruit materials such as cherries, plums, apples, pears or grapes, which grow in abundance in these countries [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The level of unrecorded consumption in the WHO European region varies between 3% (Austria) and 75% (Azerbaijan) (average 21%) of total alcohol consumption (calculated based on WHO data for 2016 [12]).…”

“…In 2019, two new studies on the chemical composition of unrecorded alcohol were published, namely, a pilot study on lead contamination of fruit spirits for own consumption from the Slovak Republic, but also including samples from Hungary [6], and a study on cadmium contamination in unrecorded plum spirits [7]. The studies found an extremely high prevalence of the two metals (lead 100%, n = 18; cadmium 97%, n = 35).…”

“…However, the new studies [6,7] did not provide a quantitative risk assessment for the metals. Therefore, this article aims to provide such a risk assessment based on their data [6,7] using the margin of exposure (MOE) methodology [23,24].…”