Lead in alcoholic beverages

Abstract

Following the finding that blood lead concentrations in middle-aged men were positively associated with alcohol consumption, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommended that information on lead in alcoholic beverages be obtained. The results reported here were obtained in response to the Royal Commission's request. About 90% of canned and bottled beers contained less than or equal to 10 micrograms/l of lead, whereas nearly half the draught beers sampled contained greater than 10 micrograms/l and 4% contained greater than 100 micrograms/l. Opening the cans and bottles and pouring the contents into a glass had no significant effect on the lead concentration in the beer. All wines sampled directly from the bottle, that is without pouring, contained less than 250 micrograms/l of lead. However the lead concentration in some wines contained in lead-capped bottles increased significantly when the wine was poured from the bottle, in one instance the increment was 1890 micrograms/l. It is concluded that consumption of beer containing 50 micrograms/l of lead could make a substantial contribution to blood lead concentrations in man. Consumption of 1 l/day of wine containing 150 micrograms/l of lead could also make a major contribution to blood lead concentrations. Lead contamination of wine when it is poured from a bottle, which had been lead-capped, can sometimes greatly increase lead concentrations in the wine.

A human in vivo model for the determination of lead bioavailability using stable isotope dilution.

“…Several investigators have concluded that among regular wine drinkers, lead intake from wine may exceed that from diet, water, air, and dust combined (23,24,27,28). We concur, and conclude that for a 70-kg subject, a single Change in blood lead after ingestion of sherry containing 1.21 pmol/Pb/70 kg body weight.…”

“…Epidemiologic studies have found a dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and BPb (18)(19)(20)(21)(22); wine consumption has been reported as a specific risk factor (18,19). This is not surprising as lead concentrations in wines reportedly range from 0.14 to 1.21 pmol/l, with a mean of 0.42 pmol/l (23).…”

The effect of alcohol consumption on maternal and cord blood electrolyte and trace element levels

“…Surprisingly, we have failed to detect a signifi cant change in iron, copper, zinc, and selenium levels, in contradiction to earlier indications (Arinola, 2008;Cook et al, 1991;González-Reimers et al, 2010;Skalny, 1990;Skalny and Skosyreva, 1987;Zarski et al, 1985). Earlier studies also demonstrated that certain alcoholic drinks may be contaminated with toxic trace elements (Sherlock et al, 1986). At the same time, we did not observe a signifi cant increase in heavy metal levels in either maternal or cord blood.…”

Lead and cadmium content of Brazilian beers

“…In comparison, the average lead concentrations in beers (n=9) produced and consumed in Finland, was reported as 9µg/L and the cadmium concentrations were bellow 1µg/L [13]. In United Kingdom, the analyses of 302 samples of beer indicated a range of less than 10µg Pb/L to over 200µgPb/ L [12]. Spanish beers (n=8) have shown values from 3 to 15µgPb/L [1] and Italian beers (n=7) from less than 30 to 120µgPb/L [5].…”