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Lapierre C, Erlandson LW, Stoneroad II R, Rhiner A, Gosnell R, Barber J, Pham L. Substances of health concern in home-distilled and commercial alcohols from Texas. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32317. [PMID: 38912503 PMCID: PMC11190660 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Poor distillation practices in the production of spirits have historically resulted in many instances of adverse health outcomes including death. Concern has focused on lead and copper contamination as well as unhealthy levels of methanol and glyphosate. This study assesses home-distilled and commercially distilled alcohols from Texas for these substances of concern, highlighting their potential risks to public health. Methods Atomic absorption spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to determine lead and copper, methanol, and glyphosate levels in 12 commercial and 36 home-distilled alcohol samples. Results Our findings showed that 11 % of the home-distilled alcohols exceeded the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau's copper safety limits of 0.5 mg/L for wine. Additionally, 36 % of these samples surpassed the European Commission (EC)'s lead legal threshold of 0.15 mg/L set for wine products. Results from commercial alcohols indicated that no samples exceeded the same safety limits for copper, and 33 % exceeded the same legal threshold for lead. Both commercial and home-distilled alcohols exhibited methanol concentrations remarkably below the 0.35 % limit for brandy set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Only two home-distilled samples contained detectable glyphosate concentrations well below 100 μg/L, the maximum residue level in beer and wine established by the EC. Conclusions Our findings suggested that consumption of alcohol in Texas may pose potential health risks associated with the elevated content of lead and copper. There is a need for increased focus on alcohol as a potential source of exposure to heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coady Lapierre
- Department of Counseling and Psychology, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Randy Stoneroad II
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew Rhiner
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas, USA
| | - Renae Gosnell
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas, USA
| | - John Barber
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas, USA
| | - Linh Pham
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Texas, USA
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2
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Liao H, Asif H, Huang X, Luo Y, Xia X. Mitigation of microbial nitrogen-derived metabolic hazards as a driver for safer alcoholic beverage choices: An evidence-based review and future perspectives. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2023; 22:5020-5062. [PMID: 37823801 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Alcoholic beverages have been enjoyed worldwide as hedonistic commodities for thousands of years. The unique quality and flavor are attributed to the rich microbiota and nutritional materials involved in fermentation. However, the metabolism of these microbiota can also introduce toxic compounds into foods. Nitrogen-derived metabolic hazards (NMH) are toxic metabolic hazards produced by microorganisms metabolizing nitrogen sources that can contaminate alcoholic beverages during fermentation and processing. NMH contamination poses a risk to dietary safety and human health without effective preventive strategies. Existing literature has primarily focused on investigating the causes of NMH formation, detection methods, and abatement techniques for NMH in fermentation end-products. Devising effective process regulation strategies represents a major challenge for the alcoholic beverage industry considering our current lack of understanding regarding the processes whereby NMH are generated, real-time and online detection, and the high degradation rate after NMH formation. This review summarizes the types and mechanisms of nitrogenous hazard contamination, the potential risk points, and the analytical techniques to detect NMH contamination. We discussed the changing patterns of NMH contamination and effective strategies to prevent contamination at different stages in the production of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, we also discussed the advanced technologies and methods to control NMH contamination in alcoholic beverages based on intelligent monitoring, synthetic ecology, and computational assistance. Overall, this review highlights the risks of NMH contamination during alcoholic beverage production and proposes promising strategies that could be adopted to eliminate the risk of NMH contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liao
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, P. R. China
| | - Hussain Asif
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, P. R. China
| | - Xinlei Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, P. R. China
| | - Yi Luo
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, P. R. China
| | - Xiaole Xia
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, P. R. China
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Muhollari T, Szűcs S, Sajtos Z, McKee M, Baranyai E, Ádány R, Pál L. Heavy metals in unrecorded Albanian rakia: A pilot study on a potential public health risk. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13717. [PMID: 36873485 PMCID: PMC9981896 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Unrecorded alcohol has been linked to illness above and beyond that caused by ethanol alone because of the presence of toxic contaminants. While it can be found in all countries, consumption is high in Albania, where it is frequently consumed as a fruit brandy known as rakia. Among the contaminants identified previously in such products, metals including lead have been detected at levels posing a risk to health but there is little information on their presence in rakia. To fill this gap, we measured the level of ethanol and 24 elements among them toxic metals in 30 Albanian rakia samples. We found that 63.3% of rakia samples had ethanol concentration above 40% v/v. We also showed that there was a significant difference between the measured [mean: 46.7% v/v, interquartile range (IQR): 43.4-52.1% v/v] and reported (mean: 18.9% v/v, IQR: 17.0-20.0% v/v) concentrations of ethanol in rakia. Among the metals detected, aluminium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc were present in rakia samples at concentrations ranging between 0.013 and 0.866 mg/l of pure alcohol (pa), 0.025-31.629 mg/l of pa, 0.004-1.173 mg/l of pa, 0.185-45.244 mg/l of pa, 0.044-1.337 mg/l of pa, and 0.004-10.156 mg/l of pa, respectively. Copper and lead were found to be the greatest concern posing a potential public health risk. Although the estimated daily intake of these heavy metals from unrecorded rakia was below their toxicological threshold, the concentrations of lead and copper exceeded their limit value of 0.2 and 2.0 mg/l of pa specified for spirits in 33% and 90% of samples, respectively. Therefore, the possibility of adverse health effects cannot be excluded completely. Our findings highlight the need for action by policymakers against the risks posed by these products in Albania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teuta Muhollari
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szűcs
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zsófi Sajtos
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Atomic Spectroscopy Laboratory, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edina Baranyai
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Atomic Spectroscopy Laboratory, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Róza Ádány
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,ELKH-DE Public Health Research Group, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Pál
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Pál L, Jenei T, McKee M, Kovács N, Vargha M, Bufa-Dőrr Z, Muhollari T, Bujdosó MO, Sándor J, Szűcs S. Health and economic gain attributable to the introduction of the World Health Organization's drinking water standard on arsenic level in Hungary: A nationwide retrospective study on cancer occurrence and ischemic heart disease mortality. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158305. [PMID: 36030879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 140 million individuals are at risk from consumption of drinking water containing arsenic at concentrations above the WHO guideline value of 10 μg/l. Arsenic mitigation is considered to be the most effective way to prevent arsenic related diseases. After joining the European Union, Hungary implemented a Drinking Water Quality Improvement Programme (DWQIP) to reduce levels of arsenic in drinking water below the WHO guideline value. But what impact did this have on health? We estimated the change in lifetime excess skin, lung, and bladder cancer risks and mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) associated with chronic arsenic intake among those exposed before (2004-2007) and after (2014-2017) the implementation of DWQIP. A population-based risk assessment approach was used to assess lifetime excess cancer risk applying two scenarios for lung and bladder cancers. The economic benefits of the DWQIP were estimated by the combination of cost of illness and value per statistical life methods. Compared to the period before the DWQIP, its implementation was associated with a significant reduction in arsenic in drinking water [median: 3.0 μg/l interquartile range (IQR): 1.5-12.0 μg/l to median: 2.15 μg/l IQR: 1.0-5.79 μg/l]. The two scenarios were estimated to be associated with 225.2 and 35.9 fewer cancer cases each year. The number of annually prevented IHD deaths was estimated to be 88.9. It was estimated that the benefits of the DWQIP will outweigh its costs. We conclude that reducing arsenic levels in drinking water to 10.0 μg/l resulted in significant health and economic benefits. Our study goes beyond the existing research, offering both new insights into the impact of arsenic mitigation and providing a methodological template for similar studies in the many parts of the world that have yet to reduce arsenic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Pál
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Tibor Jenei
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Martin McKee
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Nóra Kovács
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Márta Vargha
- National Public Health Centre, Public Health Laboratory Department, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Zsuzsanna Bufa-Dőrr
- National Public Health Centre, Public Health Laboratory Department, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Teuta Muhollari
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Marozsán Orsolya Bujdosó
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - János Sándor
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Sándor Szűcs
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
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5
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Elemental profile of recorded and unrecorded fruit spirits and health risk assessment. J Food Compost Anal 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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6
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Srdjenović-Čonić B, Kladar N, Božin B, Torović L. Harmful volatile substances in recorded and unrecorded fruit spirits. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.103981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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7
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Muhollari T, Szűcs S, Ádány R, Sándor J, McKee M, Pál L. Methanol in unrecorded fruit spirits. Does it pose a health risk to consumers in the European Union? A probabilistic toxicological approach. Toxicol Lett 2022; 357:43-56. [PMID: 34990791 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Methanol is present at high concentrations in unrecorded fruit spirits, placing consumers of these beverages at risk of exposure at high levels. When assessing any health risk it is necessary to consider blood methanol levels (BMLs), reference dose (RfD), and maximum tolerable blood methanol level (MTBML). The aim of our study was to estimate daily methanol intake and related BMLs attributable to drinking unrecorded fruit spirits in the European population using a probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation. Data on the concentration of methanol in unrecorded fruit spirits in European Union member states were collected and the health risk posed by consumption of unrecorded fruit spirits was estimated. We found that drinking unrecorded fruit spirits containing methanol at a concentration higher than 8598.1 mg/litre of pure alcohol (p.a.) or 6382.1 mg/litre of p.a. and also at least 10 g ethanol can result in a methanol intake above the RfD by men and women, respectively. We confirmed that consumption of unrecorded fruit spirits containing methanol does not result in BMLs higher than the MTBML. Further studies are required to assess whether there is any health risk from chronic exposure to methanol above the RfD from unrecorded fruit spirits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teuta Muhollari
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Sándor Szűcs
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Róza Ádány
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary; MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - János Sándor
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Martin McKee
- European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - László Pál
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
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8
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Rehm J, Neufeld M, Room R, Sornpaisarn B, Štelemėkas M, Swahn MH, Lachenmeier DW. The impact of alcohol taxation changes on unrecorded alcohol consumption: A review and recommendations. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 99:103420. [PMID: 34456119 PMCID: PMC9429812 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diverse forms of unrecorded alcohol, defined as beverage alcohol not registered in official statistics in the country where it is consumed, comprise about one fourth of all alcohol consumed worldwide. Since unrecorded alcohol is usually cheaper than registered commercial alcohol, a standard argument against raising alcohol excise taxes has been that doing so could potentially result in an increase in unrecorded consumption. This contribution examines whether increases in taxation have in fact led to increases in consumption of unrecorded alcohol, and whether these increases in unrecorded alcohol should be considered to be a barrier to raising taxes. A second aim is to outline mitigation strategies to reduce unrecorded alcohol use. METHODS Narrative review of primary and secondary research, namely case studies and narrative and systematic reviews on unrecorded alcohol use worldwide. RESULTS Unrecorded alcohol consumption did not automatically increase with increases in taxation and subsequent price increases of registered commercial alcohol. Instead, the level of unrecorded consumption depended on: a) the availability and type of unrecorded alcohol; b) whether such consumption was non-stigmatized; c) the primary population groups which consumed unrecorded alcohol before the policy change; and d) the policy measures taken. Mitigation strategies are outlined. CONCLUSIONS Potential increases in the level of unrecorded alcohol consumption should be considered in the planning and implementation of substantial increases in alcohol taxation. However, unrecorded consumption should not be considered to be a principal barrier to implementing tax interventions, as evidence does not indicate an increase in consumption if mitigation measures are put in place by governments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 2S1; Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy & Center of Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P8, Canada; World Health Organization / Pan American Health Organization Collaborating Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2S1; Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Room 2374, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8; Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya str., 8, b. 2, 119992, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Maria Neufeld
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 2S1; Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy & Center of Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Moscow, Leontyevsky Pereulok 9, 125009 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Robin Room
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Building NR-1, La Trobe University, Plenty Rd. x Kingsbury Rd., Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia; Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 3rd floor, Sveavägen 160, 113 46 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bundit Sornpaisarn
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 2S1; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1P8, Canada; Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400
| | - Mindaugas Štelemėkas
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Monica H Swahn
- Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, 520 Parliament Garden Way NW, Room 4103, MD 4101, Kennesaw, GA, USA, 30144
| | - Dirk W Lachenmeier
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Paschall MJ, Grube JW, Ringwalt CL, Fisher DA, Miller T. The Contribution of Alcohol Beverage Types to Consumption, Heavy Drinking, and Alcohol-Related Harms: A Comparison across Five Countries. Subst Use Misuse 2021; 56:1982-1988. [PMID: 34379043 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1963984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examined the relative contribution of alcoholic beverage types to overall alcohol consumption and associations with heavy alcohol use and alcohol-related harms among adults. METHODS Cross-sectional survey data were collected from adult samples in two cities involved in the Global Smart Drinking Goals (GSDG) initiative in each of five countries (Belgium, Brazil, China, South Africa, United States). Survey measures included past-30-day consumption of beer, wine, flavored alcoholic drinks, spirits, and homemade alcohol; past-30-day heavy drinking; 14 alcohol-related harms in the past 12 months; and demographic characteristics. Within in each country, we computed the proportion of total alcohol consumption for each beverage type. Regression analyses were conducted to estimate the relative associations between consumption of each alcoholic beverage type, heavy alcohol use, and alcohol-related harms, controlling for demographic characteristics. RESULTS Beer accounted for at least half of total alcohol consumption in GSDG cities in Belgium, Brazil, the U.S., and South Africa, and 35% in China. Regression analyses indicated that greater beer consumption was associated with heavy drinking episodes and with alcohol-related harms in the cities in Belgium, Brazil, South Africa, and the U.S. Significant increases in heavy drinking and alcohol-related harms were also consistently observed for spirits consumption. CONCLUSIONS Beer accounts for the greatest proportion of total alcohol consumption in most of the GSDG cities and was consistently associated with more heavy drinking episodes and alcohol-related harms. Reducing beer consumption through evidence-based interventions may therefore have the greatest impact on hazardous drinking and alcohol-related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallie J Paschall
- HBSA, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Joel W Grube
- HBSA, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Deborah A Fisher
- HBSA, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, Maryland, USA
| | - Ted Miller
- HBSA, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, Maryland, USA
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10
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Pál L, Muhollari T, Bujdosó O, Baranyai E, Nagy A, Árnyas E, Ádány R, Sándor J, McKee M, Szűcs S. Heavy metal contamination in recorded and unrecorded spirits. Should we worry? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 116:104723. [PMID: 32645427 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Pál
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Teuta Muhollari
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Orsolya Bujdosó
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Edina Baranyai
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Attila Nagy
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Ervin Árnyas
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Róza Ádány
- MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, Public Health Research Institute, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary; WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - János Sándor
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Martin McKee
- European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Sándor Szűcs
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
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11
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Chrystoja BR, Rehm J, Crépault JF, Shield K. Effect of alcohol prohibition on liver cirrhosis mortality rates in Canada from 1901 to 1956: A time-series analysis. Drug Alcohol Rev 2020; 39:637-645. [PMID: 32452070 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS The extent to which alcohol consumption in Canada was affected by alcohol prohibition in the early 20th century remains unclear. Since there is a dearth of data on consumption during this time, we estimated the effect of alcohol prohibition on alcohol consumption, as measured by changes in liver cirrhosis mortality rates in Canada. DESIGN AND METHODS Annual liver cirrhosis mortality data were obtained for 1901 to 1956 for the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Changes in death rates were assessed, by province, using autoregressive integrated moving average models. Results were pooled across provinces using a fixed effects meta-analysis. A secondary fixed effects meta-analysis was performed which only included provinces with data for before, during and after prohibition, and excluded provinces with data only beginning during prohibition. RESULTS Prohibition was associated with a statistically significant decrease in liver cirrhosis death rates only in Nova Scotia (P = 0.01). Pooling of provincial results indicated that prohibition resulted in 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.06, 0.72; P = 0.02) fewer liver cirrhosis deaths per 100 000 people. In the restricted meta-analysis, prohibition resulted in 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.18, 1.12; P < 0.01) fewer liver cirrhosis deaths per 100 000 people. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Although alcohol prohibition in Canada did not eliminate alcohol consumption, our findings suggest that prohibition was associated with reduced consumption, as evidenced by a reduction in liver cirrhosis mortality rates. Further, it's important to reflect on alcohol's history in Canada and use those policy lessons to guide the construction of effective cannabis legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany R Chrystoja
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jean-François Crépault
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Communications and Partnerships, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kevin Shield
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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12
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Pál L, Bujdosó O, McKee M, Sándor J, Szűcs S. Commentary: Short-Chain Alcohols Upregulate GILZ Gene Expression and Attenuate LPS-Induced Septic Immune Response. Front Immunol 2020; 11:728. [PMID: 32373133 PMCID: PMC7186468 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- László Pál
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Bujdosó
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Martin McKee
- European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - János Sándor
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szűcs
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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13
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Lachenmeier DW. Is There a Need for Alcohol Policy to Mitigate Metal Contamination in Unrecorded Fruit Spirits? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2452. [PMID: 32260249 PMCID: PMC7177827 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Unrecorded alcohol comprises all types of alcohol that is not registered in the jurisdiction where it is consumed. In some countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Balkans, the majority of unrecorded alcohol consumption may derive from the home production of fruit spirits. Some studies found a high prevalence of lead and cadmium in such spirits. This article provides a quantitative comparative risk assessment using the margin of exposure (MOE) methodology for lead and cadmium, compared to ethanol, for unrecorded fruit spirits. For average concentration levels, the lowest MOE (0.8) was calculated for ethanol (alcohol itself). For lead, the MOE was 13 for moderate daily drinking and 0.9 for the worst-case scenario. For cadmium, the MOE was 1982 for moderate daily drinking and 113 for the worst-case scenario. The results of this study are consistent with previous comparative risk assessments stating that ethanol itself comprises by far the highest risk of all compounds in alcoholic beverages. Regarding metal contaminants, the risk of cadmium appears negligible; however, lead may pose an additional health risk in heavy drinking circumstances. Strategies to avoid metal contamination in the artisanal home production of spirits need to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk W Lachenmeier
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
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14
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Mihailovic N, Szőllősi GJ, Rancic N, János S, Boruzs K, Nagy AC, Timofeyev Y, Dragojevic-Simic V, Antunovic M, Reshetnikov V, Ádány R, Jakovljevic M. Alcohol Consumption among the Elderly Citizens in Hungary and Serbia-Comparative Assessment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E1289. [PMID: 32079338 PMCID: PMC7068319 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Studies in the alcohol consumption area are mostly related to the (ab)use of alcohol in young people. However, today, a growing number of researchers are emphasizing the clinical and public health significance of alcohol consumption in the elderly. In the WHO reports, harmful alcohol consumption is responsible for 5.3% of the global burden of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alcohol consumption among men and women aged 55 and over in Serbia and Hungary, leveraging data from the 2013 Serbian National Health Survey and from the 2014 Hungarian National Health Survey. Respondents aged 55 and over were analysed based on logistic multivariate models. The prevalence of alcohol consumption was 41.5% and 62.5% in Serbia and Hungary, respectively. It was higher among men in both countries, but among women, it was significantly higher in Hungary than in Serbia. The statistically significant predictors affecting alcohol consumption in Serbia included age, education, well-being index, long-term disease and overall health status, with marital status being an additional factor among men. In Hungary, education and long-term disease affected alcohol consumption in both sexes, while age and employment were additional factors among women. In both countries for both sexes, younger age, more significantly than primary education and good health, was associated with a higher likelihood of alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Mihailovic
- Institute of Public Health Kragujevac, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Nikole Pašića 1, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Gergő József Szőllősi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Nemanja Rancic
- The Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Crnotravska 17, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sándor János
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Klára Boruzs
- Department of Health Systems Management and Quality Management in Health Care, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Attila Csaba Nagy
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Yuriy Timofeyev
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Shabolovka Ulitsa 26-28, 119049 Moscow, Russian
| | - Viktorija Dragojevic-Simic
- The Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Crnotravska 17, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marko Antunovic
- National Poison Control Center, Medical Faculty, Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Crnotravska 17, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Reshetnikov
- N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, I.M. Sechenov the First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Róza Ádány
- MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, Public Health Research Institute, University of Debrecen, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mihajlo Jakovljevic
- N.A. Semashko Department of Public Health and Healthcare, I.M. Sechenov the First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Global Health Economics and Policy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Institute of Comparative Economic Studies, Hosei University, Tokyo 194-0298, Japan
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15
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Bujdosó O, Pál L, Nagy A, Árnyas E, Ádány R, Sándor J, McKee M, Szűcs S. Can be the health risk from consumption of unrecorded fruit spirits containing alcohols other than ethanol ruled out? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 107:104431. [PMID: 31336129 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.104431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Bujdosó
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - László Pál
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Attila Nagy
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Ervin Árnyas
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Róza Ádány
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary; MTA-DE Public Health Research Group of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - János Sándor
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Martin McKee
- European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Sándor Szűcs
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
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Lachenmeier DW, Walch SG, Rehm J. Exaggeration of health risk of congener alcohols in unrecorded alcohol: does this mislead alcohol policy efforts? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 107:104432. [PMID: 31336128 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.104432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk W Lachenmeier
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187, Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Stephan G Walch
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1R8, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M7, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada; Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S1, Canada; Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy & Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187, Dresden, Germany; Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya Str., 8, b. 2, 119992, Moscow, Russian Federation
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