Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on November 25, 2008
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2009 44(1):93-102; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agn095
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The Composition of Alcohol Products from Markets in Lithuania and Hungary, and Potential Health Consequences: A Pilot Study
1 Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Germany,
2 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada,
3 Institut für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, TU Dresden, Germany and
4 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
* Corresponding author: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany. Tel: +49-721-926-5434; Fax: +49-721-926-5539; E-mail: Lachenmeier{at}web.de
Received 20 November 2007; first review notified 29 January 2008; in revised form 13 February 2008, 31 July 2008; accepted 16 October 2008; advance access publication 25 November 2008
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Abstract |
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Aims: The rates of alcohol-attributable mortality in Lithuania and Hungary have been shown to be higher than those in most other European countries. Quality of alcohol products is investigated as a possible explanation. Methods: In a descriptive pilot study, a convenience sample of alcohol products was collected from local city markets in both countries (Lithuania n = 10, Hungary n = 15) and chemical analyses, including some that have not been done in prior studies, were conducted. The parameters studied were alcoholic strength, volatiles (methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols), ethyl carbamate, anions (including nitrate) and inorganic elements (including lead). Additionally, a multi-target screening analysis for toxicologically relevant substances was conducted. Results: The majority of samples (64%) had an alcohol content between 35% vol. and 40% vol., being in accordance with the typical strength of legal spirits in Europe. Three samples containing significantly higher concentrations of alcohol above 60% vol. were found to be unrecorded alcohol products, defined as any alcohol that is outside of legal and taxed production. Screening analysis showed that those samples contained various flavourings, including the hepatotoxic substance coumarin, at concentrations above the legal limit for foods. All other substance classes under study were found to be at levels of no toxicological concern. Conclusions: Although some problems with the quality of the alcohol samples were found, there is insufficient evidence from this pilot study to conclude that alcohol quality has an influence on health as reflected in alcohol-attributable mortality rates. Given the extent of alcohol-attributable disease burden in central and eastern European countries, future research should focus on collection of large, representative samples, particularly of unrecorded sources, which was the most problematic product group in our study.