A human health risk assessment of lead (Pb) ingestion among adult wine consumers

Abstract

Background: Recent concerns have been raised regarding heavy metal content in wine and its potential health implications. The goal of this study was to determine if lead (Pb) intake poses a health risk among adult consumers of wine. This was achieved by performing a literature review of studies reporting Pb concentration in United States and international wines, determining adult wine consumption rates in the United States using NHANES dietary survey data, utilizing the U.S. EPA's Adult Lead Methodology (ALM) model to estimate adult blood lead levels (BLLs) from wine consumption under various exposure scenarios, and comparing modeled BLLs to guidance values. Models were stratified by average exposure (mean wine Pb concentration) and high exposure (95 th percentile wine Pb concentration) scenarios. Results: Lead concentration data was abstracted from a total of 31 studies, including wine from 18 countries for a total of 472 wine samples. The mean Pb content of international red and white wines were 33.9 μg/L (n = 282) and 35.7 μg/L (n = 118), respectively, while the mean Pb content of domestic red wine was 4.4 μg/L (n = 61). All modelled BLLs were below the Center for Disease Control (CDC) BLL guidance value of 5 μg/dL. Assuming a mean baseline BLL, an individual was required to drink 10.4 glasses of wine per day (all wine types) under the average exposure scenario and 3.7 glasses of wine per day (all wine types) under the high exposure scenario in order to elevate their BLL to the guidance value of 5 μg/dL. When stratified by region, a minimum of approximately 24 glasses of wine from the United States per day was required to raise adult BLLs to the 5 μg/dL guidance value. Conclusions: Overall, findings suggest that Pb content in wine does not pose a health risk to adult wine consumers.

Elemental Content and Lead-Strontium Isotope Characterization of Wine

“…Quantification of several elements in wines can validate the original authentication [8,9,11,12], the potential toxicity and role in human diet [6,13,14], the effect on wine stability and organoleptic characteristics [15,16,17].…”

“…The concern in human exposure to the metal content of various beverages received a raising attention, since the consumption of wines in large volumes, significantly contribute to the daily dietary trace element intake by humans and so far there have not been a precise characterization of the impact of a number and the amounts of metals found in different drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) on human health [13,18]. In the production of wines, the quality control checks have to be brought to ensure that the consumer is protected and possible sources of contaminations are traced.…”

“…The origin of Cu in wines is due to copper-based sprays used in vineyards, whereas the As, Cd, and Pb contents reflect the differences in grape variety, environmental factors and the wine-processing methods [11]. The Pb, Hg and Cd are undoubtedly considered toxic and should be monitored all the time, but also Cu, Ni, Cr, V, Zn, Ag, and Al, which in high concentrations may impart a certain toxicity [6,13,18]. The determination of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in wines is of great interest from oenological and toxicological points of view and correct knowledge of these parameters is required by the law.…”

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils and Plant (Vernonia amygdalina Delile) in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

“…This may be likened to the anthropogenic inputs, such as vehicle servicing and repair activities, found around these stations. Increased accumulation of Pb in the human system leads to several medical conditions, including biodiversity loss of lower organisms [45]. Lead (Pb) contaminant may be as a result of adjacent traffic activities and polluted atmospheric precipitation and use of agrochemicals easily assessed by plant absorption [46,47].…”

A Human Health Risk Assessment of Trace Elements Present in Chinese Wine

“…To evaluate potential hazards resulting from long-term daily consumption of wine containing these measured elements, we referenced the concept of an estimated daily intake (EDI) for trace elements from wine. As there were no related data about the wine daily consumption rate of drinkers in China, and the target of our assessment was adult drinkers, we assumed that an adult drinker had a daily drinking volume of 200 mL (approximately a glass of wine), which was also similar to the wine consumption rate of 195 g/day used in other assessment study [32]. On the other hand, Chinese drinking habits were based on cups, so the volume of 200 mL wine consumption could also make people more specific understanding about the amounts assessed.…”