Heavy metal contamination in recorded and unrecorded spirits. Should we worry?

Heavy metals can be released into all alcoholic beverages during production and storage. However, there is at least a theoretical risk that they could be present in higher, and potentially toxic, concentrations in those produced in the household and small-scale stills common in Central and Eastern Europe, which lack quality control and whose products are unrecorded by authorities. Yet, so far, few studies comparing concentrations of heavy metals in recorded and unrecorded spirits have been published. In this study we ask whether there is any difference between heavy metal concentrations in recorded and unrecorded spirits and, thus, the related health risk. The levels of heavy metals were determined in recorded (n = 97) and unrecorded (n = 100) spirits using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric analysis and applied to population-based risk assessments, considering average, regular and chronic heavy drinkers. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Sn were significantly higher in unrecorded spirits than those in their recorded counterparts and recorded spirits contained significantly higher levels of Fe, Mn, and Ni than unrecorded spirits. Combined exposure to heavy metals posed a potential health risk in chronic heavy drinkers consuming recorded spirits. However, when compared to the health risk arising from drinking large volumes of ethanol, the risk is negligible. Consequently, there are no grounds to worry about the adverse effects of heavy metals from spirits.

Is there any difference between the health risk from consumption of recorded and unrecorded spirits containing alcohols other than ethanol? A population-based comparative risk assessment.

Alcohol-attributable mortality in certain countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) remains higher than in their western neighbours. The effect of unrecorded alcohol consumption, including home-made fruit spirits have been suggested as an explanation. Besides ethanol, recorded and unrecorded spirits frequently contain other aliphatic alcohols (OAAs). Our aim was to ascertain whether there is any difference in the amounts of OAAs in recorded and unrecorded spirits, and thus the health risk associated with their consumption. The concentrations of ethanol and OAAs in recorded (n = 119) and unrecorded (n = 87) spirits were determined by gas chromatography and used in a Monte Carlo type probabilistic simulation to assess the risk based on average consumption level, consumption by regular drinkers and chronic heavy drinkers. The concentrations of OAAs in unrecorded spirits were significantly higher [median: 9896.1 mg/L, interquartile range (IQR): 7898.3-12 634.6 mg/L] than those in their recorded (median: 975.6 mg/L, IQR: 136.9-4006.7 mg/L) counterparts. Besides ethanol, methanol also posed a health risk at each consumption level. The risk associated with exposure to OAAs was higher only in chronic heavy drinkers consuming unrecorded spirits. These findings reinforce the importance of action to address the risks associated with consumption of recorded and unrecorded spirits.

Metabolites of Aliphatic Alcohols Detected in Alcoholic Beverages Inhibit Phagocytosis.

AIMS: The aim of our study was to measure granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis following treatment of cells with some metabolites of aliphatic alcohols alone and in combination with acetaldehyde. METHODS: The cells were separated from human peripheral blood prior to determination of phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan particles by granulocytes and monocytes treated individually with metabolites of aliphatic alcohols including formaldehyde, 1-propanal, acetone, 1-butanal, and 2-butanone and in combination with acetaldehyde. RESULTS: The findings revealed that metabolites of aliphatic alcohols inhibited phagocytosis by granulocytes and monocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and when combined with acetaldehyde, they caused a further decrease in phagocytic activity. CONCLUSION: Due to their additive effects, it is possible that, in combination with acetaldehyde, metabolites of aliphatic alcohols may inhibit phagocytosis at physiologically realistic concentrations in episodic heavy drinkers, thereby contributing to their increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Aliphatic alcohols in spirits inhibit phagocytosis by human monocytes.

A large volume of alcoholic beverages containing aliphatic alcohols is consumed worldwide. Previous studies have confirmed the presence of ethanol-induced immunosuppression in heavy drinkers, thereby increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, the aliphatic alcohols contained in alcoholic beverages might also impair immune cell function, thereby contributing to a further decrease in microbicidal activity. Previous research has shown that aliphatic alcohols inhibit phagocytosis by granulocytes but their effect on human monocytes has not been studied. This is important as they play a crucial role in engulfment and killing of pathogenic microorganisms and a decrease in their phagocytic activity could lead to impaired antimicrobial defence in heavy drinkers. The aim of this study was to measure monocyte phagocytosis following their treatment with those aliphatic alcohols detected in alcoholic beverages. Monocytes were separated from human peripheral blood and phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan particles by monocytes treated with ethanol and aliphatic alcohols individually and in combination was determined. It was shown that these alcohols could suppress the phagocytic activity of monocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and when combined with ethanol, they caused a further decrease in phagocytosis. Due to their additive effects, it is possible that they may inhibit phagocytosis in a clinically meaningful way in alcoholics and episodic heavy drinkers thereby contribute to their increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, further research is needed to address this question.