A study of the ethyl carbamate level in cachaça samples.

Cachaça is the typical and exclusive denomination of Brazilian sugar cane spirit. In this study, analysis of ethyl carbamate (EC) was carried out in 120 cachaças samples acquired at different regions from the Rio de Janeiro city (north, south, west and downtown). In total, 47% of samples exhibited EC contents above 150 mg L^-1. Mean value found in the west region was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those from other regions. Although the mean value of the samples from the downtown region was higher than that from northern and southern regions, there were no significant differences (P<0.05) between the three regions. Cachaças were classified, as follows: (A) very high concentration (301-800 mg L^-1); (B) high concentration (151-300 mg L^-1); standardized concentration (0-150 mg L^-1) (C). West region presented 3% of samples classified in the upper concentration limit (A), downtown region presented the greatest percentage (27%). In the high concentration class (B), the regions showed similar distribution percentage (ca 30%). In the class (C), west region showed the highest percentage (67%) while downtown region presented the lowest representativeness (43%). A small number (4%) of commercial multi-distilled cachaça exhibited very low contaminant level (<5 μg L^-1). Consumers of cachaça sold in the Rio de Janeiro city continue very exposed to the EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]