Uncovering the Counterfeit: A study of whiskey authenticity through volatile organic compound fingerprinting, aroma and color sensory analysis

This study presents a method employing gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME-GC-MS), supplemented with chemometrics (Soft independent modelling of class analogies - SIMCA), to analyze volatile organic compound (VOCs) profiles in suspect whiskey samples. Furthermore, a sensory analysis of aroma and color was conducted with a panel of 52 non-trained volunteers to evaluate their ability to discriminate and preference for counterfeit whiskeys. The HS-SPME-GC-MS method successfully distinguished 41 seized samples from authentic beverages. Interestingly, sensory analysis revealed that panelists could differentiate between counterfeit and authentic samples with a reference standard but did not consistently show a preference for aroma. In some cases, there was even a preference for the color of counterfeit whiskeys. The findings suggest that sensorial tests alone may not effectively distinguish counterfeit from authentic whiskeys, especially for non-expert consumers, highlighting the need for analytical instrumentation methods in fraud detection.

From inspection to analysis: A combined approach to identifying counterfeit whiskeys using HS-GC-FID and bottle integrity

Counterfeiting of alcoholic beverages, particularly high-value spirits such as whiskey, presents significant challenges for regulators, manufacturers, and consumers. In this study, we introduce and validate a novel application of headspace extraction (HS) followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for the quantitative determination of ethanol content in 42 suspected counterfeit brazilian samples of whiskeys. This method, in conjunction with visual inspection of material inconsistencies, offers a combined approach to identify potential cases of fraud. The HS-GC-FID findings revealed that only 19% of the analyzed samples had ethanol content in the limits declared on the label, emphasizing the role of ethanol content as a chemical marker for suspected beverage fraud.

Quality control of psychoactive substances in human breastmilk samples from a human milk bank by disposable pipette extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The lack of data regarding infant exposure to drugs of abuse consumed by lactating mothers has become a major health concern. Investigating psychoactive substances and their metabolites in breastmilk is an analytical approach to estimate the rate at which drugs of abuse are excreted and how much infants are exposed to them. In this study, we have developed and validated a GC-MS method using disposable pipette tips for simultaneously extracting ten analytes from breastmilk samples obtained from a milk bank in the city of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. All the 67 analyzed samples tested negative for all the analytes. This is the first study that has applied disposable pipette extraction to analyze drugs of abuse in breastmilk samples.

Levels of organic pollutants and metals/metalloids in infant formula marketed in Brazil: Risks to early-life health

Infant formula intake is recommended to ensure comprehensive nutritional and caloric fulfillment when exclusive breastfeeding is not possible. However, similarly to breast milk, infant formulas may also contain pollutants capable of inducing endocrine-disrupting and neurotoxic effects. Thus, considering the sensitivity of their developing physiological systems and that infants have heightened susceptibility to environmental influences, this study was aimed at assessing the contents of essential elements, and inorganic and organic pollutants in infant formulas marketed in Brazil. Additionally, health risk assessments for selected contaminants were also performed. Measured contents of essential elements (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu, Se, and Zn) were congruent with label information. Nevertheless, some toxic elements (Pb, Cd, As, Ni, and Al) were also detected. Notably, in the upper-bound scenario, Pb and Cd surpassed established threshold values when comparing the estimated daily intake (EDI) and tolerable daily intake (TDI - 3.57 and 0.36 μg/kg bw, respectively). Bisphenol P (BPP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) were frequently detected (84 % detection rate both) with elevated contents (BPP median = 4.28 ng/g and BBP median = 0.24 ng/g). Furthermore, a positive correlation (0.41) was observed between BPP and BBP, implying a potential co-occurrence within packaging materials. Methyl-paraben also correlated positively with BBP (0.57), showing a detection rate of 53 %. The cumulative PBDE contents ranged from 0.33 to 1.62 ng/g, with BDE-154 and BDE-47 the dominant congeners. When comparing EDI values with TDIs, all organic pollutants remained below the thresholds across all exposure scenarios. Moreover, non-carcinogenic risks were below the threshold (HQ > 1) when dividing the EDIs by the respective reference doses for chronic exposure. While the current findings may suggest that infant formula intake poses no immediate risk in terms of the evaluated chemicals, it remains imperative to conduct further research to safeguard the health of infants considering other chemicals, as well as their potential cumulative effects.

Hybrid volatilomics in cancer diagnosis by HS-GC-FID fingerprinting

Assessing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as cancer signatures is one of the most promising techniques toward developing non-invasive, simple, and affordable diagnosis. Here, we have evaluated the feasibility of employing static headspace extraction (HS) followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) as a screening tool to discriminate between cancer patients (head and neck-HNC,n= 15; and gastrointestinal cancer-GIC,n= 19) and healthy controls (n= 37) on the basis of a non-target (fingerprinting) analysis of oral fluid and urine. We evaluated the discrimination considering a single bodily fluid and adopting the hybrid approach, in which the oral fluid and urinary VOCs profiles were combined through data fusion. We used supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis for classification, and we assessed the prediction power of the models by analyzing the values of goodness of prediction (Q²Y), area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. The individual models HNC urine, HNC oral fluid, and GIC oral fluid successfully discriminated between healthy controls and positive samples (Q²Y = 0.560, 0.525, and 0.559; AUC = 0.814, 0.850, and 0.926; sensitivity = 84.8, 70.2, and 78.6%; and specificity = 82.3; 81.5; 87.5%, respectively), whereas GIC urine was not adequate (Q²Y = 0.292, AUC = 0.694, sensitivity = 66.1%, and specificity = 77.0%). Compared to the respective individual models, Q²Y for the hybrid models increased (0.623 for hybrid HNC and 0.562 for hybrid GIC). However, sensitivity was higher for HNC urine and GIC oral fluid than for hybrid HNC (75.6%) and hybrid GIC (69.8%), respectively. These results suggested that HS-GC-FID fingerprinting is suitable and holds great potential for cancer screening. Additionally, the hybrid approach tends to increase the predictive power if the individual models present suitable quality parameter values. Otherwise, it is more advantageous to use a single body fluid for analysis.

Caffeine content of energy drinks marketed in Brazil

Energy drinks represent a multibillionaire industry that has been growing continuously worldwide. These drinks are especially consumed by young people, athletes, and military personnel due to their claimed "boost" effects. However, there have been concerns about their consumption since incompatibilities regarding the accuracy of the declared caffeine content of these drinks have been reported. Therefore, in this study we have developed a fast and simple method to quantify caffeine in energy drinks. Sample preparation consisted of a dilute-and-shoot process, and analyses were performed by gas-chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detector (GC-NPD). The method was applied to quantify caffeine in 37 energy drinks marketed in Brazil. Compared to the labeled caffeine content, 84% of the tested drinks presented caffeine levels in accordance with the specifications. The determined caffeine concentrations ranged from 10 to 67 mg/100 mL, with an average value of 31 mg/100 mL. According to the recommended serving size, no drinks exceeded the safe caffeine daily intake for the general population (400 mg). These findings are more favorable than the results of similar studies. Nevertheless, to avoid caffeine intoxication, energy drink consumers should be aware of three aspects. First, they need to avoid consuming multiple serving doses in short periods of time. Additionally, some energy drinks are labeled as "nutritional supplements", so they may present much more caffeine than similar products commonly regulated as beverages. Finally, despite the growing interest in energy drinks, their consumption by children and early adolescents is being discouraged by the health authorities.

Alcohol and Alcohol Combined with Texting: Evaluation of Driving Impairment Effects in a Closed-Course Section

OBJECTIVE

Examine the driving impairment effects of alcohol alone and of alcohol combined with texting.

METHODS

Fifteen drivers (nine male, six female; mean age: 31.1 ± 6.9 years, range: 23 to 43 years) with similar drinking habit (i.e., social drinkers) completed a lap in a closed-course section in six different situations: (I) sober; (II) sober and while texting; (III) 30 minutes after ingesting a moderate dose of ethanol (0.50 g/kg); (IV) 30 minutes after drinking and while texting; (V) 60 minutes after drinking, (VI) 60 minutes after drinking and while texting. Driving performance was analyzed by means of maximum and mean speed, braking time and braking distance; and ability to control the car (i.e., evaluating if the drivers hit a traffic cone or exceeded the boundaries of the course). P values of < 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Pre and post-alcohol consumption results show a significant increase concerning the drivers' mean and maximum speed after drinking (p < 3.2x10^-8). However, neither alcohol nor texting had significant effects on braking parameters (p > 0.05). Traffic cones were knocked down only in texting experiments. In addition, when using the cell phone drivers tended to reduce the speed, and to accelerate abruptly right after they finish texting.

CONCLUSION

Our findings strengthen the hypothesis that even moderate alcohol doses may significantly impair the driving performance. Additionally, alcohol and texting have complementary effects on driving impairment, and their combination represents a significant risk factor for crashes.

Quantifying ethanol in ethanol-based hand sanitizers by headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (HS-GC/FID)

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic sharply increased the demand for ethanol-based gel hand sanitizers, leading to a shortage of these products. Consequently, regulatory health agencies worldwide have altered their regulatory guidelines, on ethanol quality, to meet this high demand, raising concern about the products quality.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to quantify ethanol content and to qualitatively assess common impurities in ethanol-based gel hand sanitizers by headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (HS-GC/FID).

METHODS

To quantify the ethanol content, 0.10 g of the sample was weighed in a 20 mL headspace vial and 5 mL of deionized water was added. Regarding the qualitative approach, 0.25 g of the sample was weighed and 4 mL of deionized water and was added. The samples were incubated, and then 400 µL of the headspace was injected into the GC/FID. Forty-eight products purchased in Brazil were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirteen products presented at least one nonconformity regarding the ethanol quantity. Two samples presented an average ethanol concentration below the lower limit considered effective. Twelve samples presented acetaldehyde or ethyl acetate.

CONCLUSION

The huge demand for ethanol-based gel hand sanitizers may have impacted their quality. Because concern with proper hand hygiene tends to remain an issue for a long period, more studies about quality control of hand sanitizers will be needed.

HIGHLIGHTS

A simple and fast HS-GC/FID method to quantify ethanol in ethanol-based gel hand sanitizers was developed, validated and applied to commercial samples in Brazil. The regulatory authorities must be more vigilant to ensure that the commercially available products meet the recommended specifications.

Pre-workout supplements marketed in Brazil: Caffeine quantification and caffeine daily intake assessment

The stimulating and performance-enhancing properties of caffeine are often explored in one the most consumed types of supplements: the pre-workout supplements (PWS). However, despite the popularity of PWS, previous studies have reported incompatibilities between what is described in their labels and their actual caffeine content. This study aimed to develop, to optimize, and to validate a gas-chromatography coupled to nitrogen-phosphorus detector (GC-NPD) method to quantify caffeine in PWS and to analyze commercial PWS marketed in Brazil to estimate the caffeine daily intake. For this purpose, three different extraction procedures were evaluated: agitation in vortex, shaker, and sonication. Sonication yielded the best extraction results. Next, the parameters' temperature and time were optimized by using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) and response surface methodology, which revealed the optimal values of 70°C and 10 min. The method was validated and applied to quantify caffeine in 52 PWS. From the 36 PWS labels that specified the caffeine amount, seven (19%) presented more than 120% of the declared quantity, whereas 15 (42%) contained less than 80% of the labeled caffeine. Additionally, six products presented undeclared caffeine. Considering the label stated doses, five supplements exceeded the safe caffeine daily intake (400 mg). On the basis of these findings, supplement quality control remains an issue that deserves more attention from consumers, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies. Finally, we suggest that PWS consumers be careful of the habit of ingesting caffeine through other sources and avoid ingesting two or more different PWS products in the same day.

Suplementos alimentares: uma fonte de doping não intencional?

Resumo O excessivo consumo de suplementos alimentares, aliado a uma legislação inespecífica e a um controle de qualidade ineficiente, faz com que a saúde dos consumidores seja colocada em risco devido à possível existência de contaminantes, em especial pró-hormônios, esteroides anabolizantes e estimulantes. Estes compostos podem proporcionar um aumento do desempenho esportivo e acarretar uma série de efeitos adversos, sendo assim proibidos pela Agência Mundial Antidopagem. A contaminação de suplementos pode ocorrer de maneira deliberada ou através de más práticas de produção, em que são encontrados traços dessas substâncias. Todavia, ambos os casos exigem atenção, já que uma contaminação de apenas 0,00005% em massa pode levar ao doping. Neste sentido, estima-se que de 6,4% a 8,8% dos casos estejam relacionados ao consumo de suplementos contaminados. Perante estes fatos, os objetivos principais do trabalho foram: fazer uma revisão da literatura tanto em trabalhos nacionais quanto internacionais, no que concerne à contaminação de suplementos alimentares e sua relação com a dopagem não intencional, bem como orientar os consumidores a escolherem produtos mais seguros. Neste sentido, foi possível observar que os suplementos nacionais são, geralmente, mais seguros quanto à presença de substâncias proibidas, principalmente em relação à contaminação por agentes anabolizantes. Contudo, ainda é preciso um melhor controle de qualidade perante a contaminação/adulteração por estimulantes.

Analysis of urinary VOCs using mass spectrometric methods to diagnose cancer: A review

The development of non-invasive screening techniques for early cancer detection is one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century. One promising emerging method is the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are low molecular weight substances generated as final products of cellular metabolism and emitted through a variety of biological matrices, such as breath, blood, saliva and urine. Urine stands out for its non-invasive nature, availability in large volumes, and the high concentration of VOCs in the kidneys. This review provides an overview of the available data on urinary VOCs that have been investigated in cancer-focused clinical studies using mass spectrometric (MS) techniques. A literature search was conducted in ScienceDirect, Pubmed and Web of Science, using the keywords "Urinary VOCs", "VOCs biomarkers" and "Volatile cancer biomarkers" in combination with the term "Mass spectrometry". Only studies in English published between January 2011 and May 2020 were selected. The three most evaluated types of cancers in the reviewed studies were lung, breast and prostate, and the most frequently identified urinary VOC biomarkers were hexanal, dimethyl disulfide and phenol; with the latter seeming to be closely related to breast cancer. Additionally, the challenges of analyzing urinary VOCs using MS-based techniques and translation to clinical utility are discussed. The outcome of this review may provide valuable information to future studies regarding cancer urinary VOCs.