Carcinogenic compounds in alcoholic beverages: an update

Abstract

The consumption of alcoholic beverages has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 1988. More recently, in 2010, ethanol as the major constituent of alcoholic beverages and its metabolite acetaldehyde were also classified as carcinogenic to humans. Alcoholic beverages as multi-component mixtures may additionally contain further known or suspected human carcinogens as constituent or contaminant. This review will discuss the occurrence and toxicology of eighteen carcinogenic compounds (acetaldehyde, acrylamide, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethanol, ethyl carbamate, formaldehyde, furan, glyphosate, lead, 3-MCPD, 4-methylimidazole, N-nitrosodimethylamine, pulegone, ochratoxin A, safrole) occurring in alcoholic beverages as identified based on monograph reviews by the IARC. For most of the compounds of alcoholic beverages, quantitative risk assessment provided evidence for only a very low risk (such as margins of exposure above 10,000). The highest risk was found for ethanol, which may reach exposures in ranges known to increase the cancer risk even at moderate drinking (margin of exposure around 1). Other constituents that could pose a risk to the drinker were inorganic lead, arsenic, acetaldehyde, cadmium and ethyl carbamate, for most of which mitigation by good manufacturing practices is possible. Nevertheless, due to the major effect of ethanol, the cancer burden due to alcohol consumption can only be reduced by reducing alcohol consumption in general or by lowering the alcoholic strength of beverages.

Advances in Distilled Beverages Authenticity and Quality Testing

“…Acetaldehyde is formed during fermentation, by the ethanol dehydrogenation, and presents toxic effects associated with hangover-like symptoms such as nausea, sweating, rapid pulse, and headache and vomiting. It is also known as a carcinogenic compound [22,23]. Distilled beverages, especially the homemade ones, may contain some amounts of heavy metals-such as lead or copper.…”

The Effect of Occasional Alcohol Drinking on Semen Quality and Sperm Morphology among Young and Healthy Polish Men

“…27,29 Therefore, the increase in the percentage of this type of defective sperm in the semen of HR group members may be an early sign of the sperm damage induced in male germ cells by EtOH-derived ROS in addition to several other genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds that are present in alcoholic beverages. 30 This hypothesis is plausible, as human semen has been reported as an early and sensitive biomarker of environmental pollution. 4 Thus, we assume that elevated amounts of macrocephalic sperm should not to be ignored, as they may reflect the accumulation of DNA damage related to EtOH consumption.…”

Influence of lifestyle choices on risks of CYP1B1 polymorphisms for prostate cancer

“…The main form of alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, which may pose a risk even at moderate drinking amounts 18. Levels of ethanol in blood were shown to dramatically rise above 15 mmol/L within 30 minutes after drinking whisky (0.72 g/kg ethanol) and gradually decreased over a 6 hour period 19.…”

“…Acetaldehyde can interfere with DNA synthesis and repair,24 cause point mutations,20, 24 form direct bonds with DNA24 and form other DNA adducts at cellular concentrations 24, 25. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed acetaldehyde as carcinogenic 18. Additionally, acetaldehyde gets metabolized into acetate via acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and in the process, radicals are formed24 that can bind to DNA 26…”