Harmful volatile substances in recorded and unrecorded fruit spirits

The alcohol-attributable mortality is an important issue in South-Eastern Europe, whereby consumption of homemade spirits is stated to be one of the leading causes. Presence of harmful volatiles in spirits in Serbia was investigated in 26 recorded and 127 unrecorded fruit spirits, collected in 2020 and analysed using GC-FID methods. Statistical analysis confirmed higher content of ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-propanol and iso-butanol in unrecorded spirits. Regarding concentration limits proposed by the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance, the one for methanol was exceeded in 4% of recorded and 17% of unrecorded spirits, for acetaldehyde in 4% of unrecorded and for higher alcohols only in one recorded spirit. Risk assessment, conducted using a margin of exposure approach, showed that spirit consumption, even at average level, posed a risk due to their high ethanol content. Regarding acetaldehyde, for males the risk was indicated starting from the regular drinkers only scenario (mean MOE 9937 for recorded and 9123 for unrecorded spirits) and for females who were chronic heavy drinkers of recorded (2324) or unrecorded spirits (1644). Chronic heavy drinkers of both sexes were in the risk of methanol and higher alcohols in case of exclusive consumption of unrecorded spirits.