Lead Hazards In Domestic and Imported Wine
Ways to Avoid Excessive Lead Consumption While Enjoying Wine
Aug 25, 2009
Lead paint poisoning is the first image that comes to mind when most people envision lead toxicity, but other hidden dangers of lead lurk in common household consumables. Enjoying a glass of wine with dinner does not have to be toxic if consumers are equipped with the following guidelines.
Lead Toxicity in Wine due to Foil Wrappers
Newer bottles of domestic wine should not have a lead foil wrapper on it, which was banned in 1996 by the Food and Drug Administration, but consumers should still be aware of imported wine bottles with a foil wrapper, or a bottle that was manufactured before the FDA ban.
If a foil wrapper is present on a wine bottle, the safest way to decrease the toxicity levels of lead is to completely remove the foil wrapping in its entirety. Before uncorking the wine, Carol Orsag Madigan, author of Life’s Big Instruction Book, recommends wiping the neck and cork with an acidic mixture, such as water and lemon juice or water and vinegar.
Lead Toxicity in Wine from Crystal Decanters
Leaded crystal decanters, according to Madigan, can cause lead to leak into the wine that is stored in it. While the level of lead in decanters can vary among manufacturers, research at Columbia University has led to the conclusion that the level of lead toxicity in wine that is poured into a lead crystal decanter can ultimately be three times higher than what is considered to be a safe drinking water level by the EPA. If stored in the crystal decanter for a few months, the lead content can increase substantially in lead content, as high as 250 times higher than what is considered safe levels.
Imported Wine versus Domestic Wine
According to Madigan, a 1991 study by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms revealed that imported wines may tend to have a higher lead content than domestic wines. The toxicity level is slightly over two times higher in unpoured imported wine. After the wine is poured, imported wine can have as much as three and a half times higher lead content.
Lead Poisoning Effects
Although the total occurrences of lead poisoning has significantly dropped in the last 20 years, according to the FDA, the hidden sources of lead in consumables can still lead to serious effects in unborn fetuses, children, and adults.
Children and fetuses absorb higher levels of lead than adults, making them more at risk for overall neurological damage, including general IQ damage. Pregnant women who are exposed to high levels of lead have a higher chance of miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as babies born with low birth weight and neurological damage.
According to the FDA, excessive lead exposure in adults can lead to disparaging symptoms, such as vomiting, uncoordination, seizures, listlessness, and can even lead to death.
Due to the fact that the damage of lead poisoning can be irreversible, consumers need to be aware of the hidden dangers that can contribute to lead consumption. For more information on various causes of lead posioning, as well as symptoms, visit the Food and Drug Administration website or contact the Centers for Disease Control at 800-232-4636.
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