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Abstract: Acetaldehyde is a volatile compound naturally found in alcoholic beverages, and it is regarded as possibly being carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B). Acetaldehyde formed during ethanol metabolism is generally considered as a source of carcinogenicity in alcoholic beverages. However, no systematic data is available about its occurrence in alcoholic beverages and the carcinogenic potential of human exposure to this directly ingested form of acetaldehyde outside ethanol metabolism. In this study, we have analysed and evaluated a large sample collective of different alcoholic beverages (n =1555). Beer (9±7mg/l, range 0–63mg/l) had significantly lower acetaldehyde contents than wine (34±34mg/l, range 0–211mg/l), or spirits (66±101mg/l, range 0–1159mg/l). The highest acetaldehyde concentrations were generally found in fortified wines (118±120mg/l, range 12–800mg/l). Assuming an equal distribution between the beverage and saliva, the residual acetaldehyde concentrations in the saliva after swallowing could be on average 195μM for beer, 734μM for wine, 1387μM for spirits, or 2417μM for fortified wine, which are above levels previously regarded as potentially carcinogenic. Further research is needed to confirm the carcinogenic potential of directly ingested acetaldehyde. Until then, some possible preliminary interventions include the reduction of acetaldehyde in the beverages by improvement in production technology or the use of acetaldehyde binding additives. A re-evaluation of the ‘generally recognized as safe’ status of acetaldehyde is also required, which does not appear to be in agreement with its toxicity and carcinogenicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of headspace adsorbent traps in combination with gas chromatography was evaluated for the determination of volatile constituents (i.e. higher alcohols and other congeners of alcoholic fermentation) in spirits. The headspace trap technology comprises an enhanced static headspace system that allows enrichment and focusing of analytes on adsorbent traps prior to gas chromatographic separation. Extraction yields 35–55 times higher than those seen with static headspace sampling were achieved. An excellent agreement of analysis results in comparison to the European reference procedure was found (R >0.98, p <0.0001). The fully automated headspace trap procedure requires only minimal sample preparation and is easy to apply. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Some European countries with high levels of unrecorded alcohol consumption have anomalously high rates of death attributable to liver cirrhosis. Hepatotoxic compounds in illegally produced spirits may be partly responsible. Based on a review of the evidence on the chemical composition and potential harm from unrecorded alcohol, the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA) project's methodology for identifying, analysing and toxicologically evaluating such alcohols is provided. A computer-assisted literature review concentrated on unrecorded alcohol. Additionally, we refer to our work in the capacity of governmental alcohol control authority and a number of pilot studies. The risk-oriented identification of substances resulted in the following compounds probably posing a public health risk in unrecorded alcohol: ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols, heavy metals, ethyl carbamate, biologically active flavourings (e.g. coumarin) and diethyl phthalate. Suggestions on a sampling strategy for identifying unrecorded alcohol that may be most prone to contamination include using probable distribution points such as local farmers and flea markets for selling surrogate alcohol (including denatured alcohol) to focusing on lower socio-economic status or alcohol-dependent individuals, and selecting home-produced fruit spirits prone to ethyl carbamate contamination. Standardized guidelines for the chemical and toxicological evaluation of unrecorded alcohol that will be used in a European-wide sampling and are applicable globally are provided. These toxicological guidelines may also be used by alcohol control laboratories for recorded alcohol products, and form a scientific foundation for establishing legislative limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]