Ethyl Carbamate in Alcoholic Beverages from Mexico (Tequila, Mezcal, Bacanora, Sotol) and Guatemala (Cuxa): Market Survey and Risk Assessment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Dirk W. Lachenmeier²  Fotis Kanteres³  Thomas Kuballa²  Mercedes G. López¹ 

[1] Unidad de Biotecnología e Ingeniería Genética de Plantas, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, 36500 Irapuato, Gto., Mexico; E-Mail:;Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany; E-Mail:;Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada; E-Mail:

关键词: Ethyl carbamate;    urethane;    alcoholic beverages;    risk assessment;    Mexico;    Guatemala;    carcinogens;    gas chromatography;    mass spectrometry;    food contamination;    food analysis;    sugarcane;    agave;    tequila;    mezcal;    cuxa;    unrecorded alcohol;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph6010349

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a recognized genotoxic carcinogen, with widespread occurrence in fermented foods and beverages. No data on its occurrence in alcoholic beverages from Mexico or Central America is available. Samples of agave spirits including tequila, mezcal, bacanora and sotol (n=110), and of the sugarcane spirit cuxa (n=16) were purchased in Mexico and Guatemala, respectively, and analyzed for EC. The incidence of EC contamination was higher in Mexico than in Guatemala, however, concentrations were below international guideline levels (<0.15 mg/L). Risk assessment found the Margin of Exposure (MOE) in line with that of European spirits. It is therefore unlikely that EC plays a role in high rates of liver cirrhosis reported in Mexico.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2009 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.