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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in whiskies

1996; Elsevier BV; Volume: 348; Issue: 9043 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0140-6736(96)24051-6

1474-547X

Jos CS Kleinjans, E.J.C. Moonen, Jan W. Dallinga, Harma J. Albering, ANTON E. VAN DEN BOGAARD, Frederik‐Jan van Schooten,

Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are abundant in the environment, predominantly as a consequence of incomplete combustion of fossile fuels. Tobacco smoke carries a high PAH load, and they are also formed during char-broiling and smoking of foods. There are several sources of PAH in the manufacture of whiskies. In Scotch malts germinated barley is dried over a peat-fueled furnace, the smoke of which gives flavour to the malt; and secondly, whiskies are stored for many years in barrels which may have been charred. In the manufacture of USA bourbons charcoal filters may be used. PAHs are of concern to human health because several representatives of this chemical family are considered to be carcinogenic. Epidemiological surveys have shown whisky consumption to be associated with increased risk for colorectal, 1 Todoroki I Kono S Snichi K et al. Relationship of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and dietary habits with sigmoid colon adenomas. Ann Epidemiol. 1995; 5: 478-483 Summary Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar oesophagea 1 Todoroki I Kono S Snichi K et al. Relationship of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and dietary habits with sigmoid colon adenomas. Ann Epidemiol. 1995; 5: 478-483 Summary Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar , 2 Yokoyama A Ohmori T Makuuchi H et al. Successful screening for early esophageal cancer in alcoholics using endoscopy and mucosa iodine staining. Cancer. 1995; 76: 928-934 Crossref PubMed Scopus (180) Google Scholar and oral 3 Mashberg A Boffetta P Winkelman R Garfinkel L Tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx among US veterans. Cancer. 1993; 72: 1369-1375 Crossref PubMed Scopus (346) Google Scholar cancer. We studied PAHs in 18 brands of whisky bought in local stores. After hexane extraction of 200 mL of whisky and purification with silica, PAHs were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD). The table groups PAH concentrations in whiskies according to their chemical structure. On average, Scotch malts contain the highest concentrations of mainly lower-molecular weight PAHs, probably as a consequence of the flavouring by peat fumes. The maturation period may also contribute because the Irish malt, which has been stored over 10 years but is claimed to be unpeated, still shows relatively high PAH concentrations; in general, because we had insufficient information on maturing time we could not assess to what extent this affects PAH content. Carcinogenic PAHs were present in all whisky brands; concentrations of the indicator carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were0·3–2·9 ng/L. TableLevels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in whiskies (ng/L) Whisky brand 2 ring PAHs 3 ring PAHs 4 ring PAHs 5 ring PAHs 6 ring PAHs BaP eq Scotch malts Laphroaig nd 8662 1387 10·6 11·0 47·5 Oban 4030 1882 1285 11·4 4·3 23·4 Glenkinchie 2775 1795 1471 9·6 4·0 19·8 Glenfiddich 2547 1909 1204 13·4 5·2 16·4 Highland Park 3048 1426 488 6·9 4·1 15·7 Glenmorangie 1860 1178 348 5·6 11·7 15·7 Scotch blends Famous Grouse 1591 1031 659 19·3 5·1 13·1 Chivas Regal 756 2162 242 4·0 1·8 8·8 Johnnie Walker Red 1085 597 382 8·3 3·8 8·0 Ballantines nd 1252 389 8·5 3·1 6·0 American bourbons Southern Comfort 249 107 121 7·5 9·2 11·9 Virginia Gentleman 4991 348 272 3·0 2·4 11·2 Jack Daniel's 121 128 18 1·3 1·8 5·7 Four Roses nd 13 76 3·2 2·9 5·4 Old Overholt 208 34 66 1·9 1·9 3·4 Irish whiskies Bushmill's Malt 1423 654 316 6·0 3·8 10·0 Jameson nd 34 64 7·6 9·6 6·3 Tullamore Dew nd 50 73 3·4 1·9 4·6 PAH=polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. BaP eq=benzo[a]pyrene equivalents; 2 ring PAH: naphthalene; 3 ring PAH: acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene; 4 ring PAH: fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene*, chrysene; 5 ring PAH; benzo[b]fluoranthene†, benzo[k]fluoranthene†, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)*; 6 rings PAH: dibenz[a,h]anthracene*, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene† (considered to be *probably or †possibly carcinogenic according to the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer criteria). nd=not detectable. Open table in a new tab PAH=polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. BaP eq=benzo[a]pyrene equivalents; 2 ring PAH: naphthalene; 3 ring PAH: acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene; 4 ring PAH: fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene*, chrysene; 5 ring PAH; benzo[b]fluoranthene†, benzo[k]fluoranthene†, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)*; 6 rings PAH: dibenz[a,h]anthracene*, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene† (considered to be *probably or †possibly carcinogenic according to the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer criteria). nd=not detectable. DEPARTMENT OF ERRORMutagen in cigarettes and foggy air-In this letter by G Myddelton (Dec 21/28, 1996; 348: 1744), the benpyrene content of London air under foggy conditions (line 20) should have been 222 μg per 100 m3. Full-Text PDF DEPARTMENT OF ERRORMutagen in cigarettes and foggy air—The author's name for this letter (Dec 21/28, p 1744) should have read: Geoffrey Myddelton, and the concentration of 3,4-benzpyrene under foggy (temperature inversion) conditions in London should have been reported as 222 μ/m3 of air. Full-Text PDF