“Very High Levels of Arsenic” in Top-Selling Wines
Samantha Hemmingway
By Dr. Mercola
If you drink alcoholic beverages on
occasion, wine could arguably be described as one of the “healthier”
options. Red wine, in particular, is rich in antioxidants called
polyphenols, including resveratrol.
Resveratrol’s antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties have been
well-established by science, and its benefits are thought to extend
to the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer
and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.
Resveratrol is found in abundance
in red wine, and it’s highly soluble in alcohol, which means your
body may absorb more of it from red wine than from other sources. In
fact, the resveratrol in red wine even has anti-aging properties
that have been linked to increased lifespan.1
Unfortunately, researchers have
uncovered a problem in wine that has recently plagued other foods
like apple juice and rice – high, potentially dangerous, levels of
arsenic.
Concerning Levels of Arsenic Detected
in Popular Wines
A class-action lawsuit filed in
California states that wine drinkers have become “unwitting ‘guinea
pigs’ of arsenic exposure,”2 after tests showed levels up
to four and five times the maximum amount the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) allows for drinking water.3
Of the more than 1,300 bottles of
wine tested, nearly one-quarter had arsenic levels higher than the
EPA’s maximum arsenic level for drinking water, which is 10 parts
per billion (ppb).
Many of the wines mentioned in the
lawsuit (nearly 30 companies representing 83 different labels in
all) are considered low-cost brands that are popular among wine
drinkers. Brands included Cupcake, Franzia, Flipflop, Rex Goliath,
Korbel, and Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Zinfandel (or “two-buck
Chuck”).4
The lawsuit is asking for monetary
damages and a label to be added to the bottles disclosing the
inorganic arsenic content as well as related health risks. It claims
“just a glass or two of these arsenic-contaminated wines a day over
time could result in dangerous arsenic toxicity to the consumer.”5
David Hicks, owner of
BeverageGrades, a lab that analyzes wine and which conducted the
study, told CBS News: 6
“The lower the price of
wine on a per-liter basis, the higher the amount of arsenic.”
The wine industry has fired back,
stating that even the highest level of arsenic found is half the
level of arsenic allowed in Canada’s wine. While the US has no
regulations concerning arsenic in wine, Canada’s allowable limit is
100 parts per billion, while Europe’s standard is 200 ppb.
Some have also pointed out a
potential conflict of interest, since Hicks’ company sells alcohol
analysis services and sent out a news release offering its services
to provide “reassurance from arsenic in wine,” according to CNN.7
Still, in general the less
potential carcinogens in your wine, the better, so it’s probably
best to follow the precautionary principle.
What Are the Health Risks of Inorganic
Arsenic?
Arsenic occurs naturally in the
earth and is released into rocks, soil, water, and air. It also gets
into soil as a result of industrial pollution and arsenic-based
pesticides that have been applied to soil. There are two primary
types, inorganic, which is found in contaminated water and also
released through industry and in building products (such as
pressure-treated wood) and organic.
Inorganic arsenic is far more
dangerous than the organic variety. It is a powerful carcinogen that
has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer,
including bladder, kidney, lung, and skin. According to the EPA:8
“Chronic inorganic arsenic
exposure is known to be associated with adverse health effects
on several systems of the body, but is most known for causing
specific types of skin lesions (sores, hyperpigmentation, and
other lesions) and increased risks of cancer of the lungs and
skin.”
Other impacts of chronic arsenic
exposure include, according to the EPA:
Kidney damage and failure |
Anemia |
Low blood pressure |
Shock |
Headaches |
Weakness |
Delirium |
Increased risk ofdiabetes |
Adverse liver and
respiratory effects, including irritation of mucous
membranes |
During development,
increased incidence of preterm delivery, miscarriage,
stillbirths, low birth weight, and infant mortality |
During childhood,
decreased performance in tests of intelligence and long-term
memory |
Skin lesions |
Food Is the Largest Source of Arsenic
Exposure for Most People
Unless you work in an industry that
uses arsenic (such as a smelting plant), your largest source of
exposure to arsenic is probably going to be your food. Although most
arsenic in food is the less toxic organic form, inorganic arsenic
does occur naturally in some foods. According to the American Cancer
Society:9
“The highest levels of
arsenic (in all forms) in foods can be found in seafood, rice,
rice cereal (and other rice products), mushrooms, and poultry,
although many other foods can contain low levels of arsenic.
Rice is of particular
concern because it is a major part of the diet in many parts of
the world. It is also a major component of many of the cereals
eaten by infants and young children. (Nearly all rice products
have been found to contain at least some arsenic, although the
levels can vary widely.)”
Rice has been shown to accumulate
10 times more arsenic than other grains, due to physiology and
growing conditions, and is an ingredient of “moderate” concern in
rice and rice-based processed foods, according to the Environmental
Working Group (EWG). EWG reported:10
“In 2012, the independent,
highly regarded Consumer Reports research organization
made public tests indicating that arsenic concentrations
commonly exceeded 100 parts per billion in rice, rice flour,
crackers, pasta, hot and cold breakfast cereals, and infant
cereal…
Arsenic levels in rice milk
often surpassed 10 parts per billion, the maximum allowed in
drinking water.”
Is US Rice Riskiest of All?
Arsenic levels vary significantly
between samples, but in the US, rice is frequently grown on land
previously used to grow cotton, on which arsenic-based pesticides
were heavily used.
According to research by Andrew
Meharg, professor of Biogeochemistry at the University of Aberdeen,
Scotland, American-grown rice has among the highest average
inorganic arsenic levels in the world.11
US rice contains nearly three times
more arsenic than Basmati rice imported from Nepal, India, and
Pakistan. Egyptian rice has the lowest inorganic arsenic levels of
all. If you are consuming rice milk, rice flour, rice pasta, and
whole rice on a regular basis, the levels of arsenic could easily
add up.
The US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has also tested 1,100 rice and rice products and concluded
“the amount of detectable arsenic is too low in the rice and rice
product samples to cause any immediate or short-term adverse health
effects.”12
However, this says nothing about
the long-term effects, especially when consumed along with other
sources of inorganic arsenic, like drinking water or wine.
Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of chronic arsenic
exposure can easily be overlooked or misdiagnosed as something else.
For example, early symptoms include:
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Skin discoloration or lesions,
including hyperkeratosis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic long-term exposure also
increases your risk of:
- Various cancers
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Reproductive problems
Arsenic Has Also Been Detected in
Apple Juice
Aside from rice, the FDA has been
monitoring levels of arsenic in apple juice for about two decades.
Here, too, they stated that “samples contain levels of arsenic that
are low, with few exceptions.” In 2012, they related data showing 95
percent of the apple juice samples tested were below 10 ppb total
arsenic, and 100 percent of the samples were below 10 ppb for
inorganic arsenic, the carcinogenic form of arsenic.13
In 2013, they proposed an “action
level” of 10 ppb for inorganic arsenic in apple juice, which is the
same standard set for drinking water. Consumer Reports
scientists had urged a much lower standard of 3 ppb for juice. It
should be noted that while apple juice with arsenic was highly
publicized, the compound was also detected in grape juice. Further,
in an analysis of arsenic levels in juice drinkers compared to
non-juice drinkers, Consumer Reports found a striking
difference. According to Consumer Reports:14
“The resulting analysis of
almost 3,000 study participants found that
those reporting apple-juice consumption had on average 19
percent greater levels of total urinary arsenic than those
subjects who did not, and those who reported drinking grape
juice had 20 percent higher levels. The
results might understate the correlation between juice
consumption and urinary arsenic levels because NHANES urinary
data exclude children younger than 6, who tend to be big juice
drinkers.
‘The current analysis
suggests that these juices may be an important contributor to
dietary arsenic exposure,’ says Keeve Nachman, Ph.D., a risk
scientist at the Center for a Livable Future and the Bloomberg
School of Public Health, both at Johns Hopkins University. ‘It
would be prudent to pursue measures to understand and limit
young children’s exposures to arsenic in juice.’”
Beer and Drinking Water May Also
Contain Arsenic
It’s not only those who drink wine
or apple juice, and eat rice, that need to be aware of dietary
sources of arsenic. Beer drinkers should also take heed. The FDA
tested 65 samples of beer, all of which contained some form of rice
ingredients. Ten of them contained inorganic arsenic levels ranging
from 15 ppb to 26 ppb.15
No further testing is planned, but
it goes to show that getting a little bit of arsenic here and a
little bit there can easily add up, especially if you drink a lot of
beer, wine or juice, or consume a lot of rice and rice-based
products. Tests have even found very high levels of inorganic
arsenic in a variety of baby foods,16 which is
particularly concerning. Arsenic exposure in utero and during early
childhood is particularly problematic, as it can cause lasting harm
to children’s developing brains, and endocrine and immune systems.
For example:17
- A 2004 study showed children
exposed to arsenic in drinking water at levels above 5 ppb had
lower IQ scores. Earlier studies have linked chronic arsenic
exposure to a range of cognitive dysfunctions, including
learning disabilities, memory problems, poor concentration, and
peripheral and central neuropathies.
- A study published in 2011
examined the long-term effects of low-level exposure on more
than 300 rural Texans whose groundwater was estimated to have
arsenic at median levels below the federal drinking-water
standard. It also found that exposure was related to poor scores
in language, memory, and other brain functions.
Not only can the level of arsenic
in US tap water be high due to natural groundwater contamination,
but the most commonly used form of fluoride added to water supplies
also tends to be contaminated with arsenic. Those with private wells
may face even greater risks than those on public systems. If you
have a well, you would be well advised to have your water tested and
treated accordingly. For example, in Maine, where almost 50 percent
of the population relies on private wells, the US Geological Survey
has occasionally found arsenic levels in well water as high as 3,100
ppb! 18
Arsenic Has Even Been Fed to Chickens
Arsenic-based drugs were approved
for use in animal feed in the US because they make animals grow
quicker and make the meat appear pinker (i.e. “fresher”). The FDA
has stated these products are safe because they contain organic
arsenic, which is less toxic than the other inorganic form,
which is a known carcinogen. The problem is, scientific reports
surfaced stating that the organic arsenic could transform into
inorganic arsenic, which has been found in elevated levels in
supermarket chickens.
The inorganic arsenic also
contaminates manure where it can eventually migrate into drinking
water and may also be causing heightened arsenic levels in US rice.
In 2011, Pfizer announced it would voluntarily stop marketing its
arsenic-based feed additive Roxarsone, and in 2013, the FDA banned
three out of four remaining arsenic drugs on the market. In the
European Union, meanwhile, arsenic-based compounds have never
been approved as safe for animal feed.
How to Protect Yourself and Your
Family from Arsenic Exposure
The problem with arsenic similar to
that of so many other toxins in our environment. While you won’t
drop dead from drinking a glass of wine or eating a bowl of rice,
the arsenic exposure accumulates and it may cause problems over
time. As noted byConsumer Reports:19
“People sometimes say, ‘If
arsenic exposure is so bad, why don’t you see more people sick
or dying from it?’ But the many diseases likely to be increased
by exposure even at relatively low levels are so common already
that its effects are overlooked simply because no one has looked
carefully for the connection,’ says Joshua Hamilton, Ph.D., a
toxicologist specializing in arsenic research and the chief
academic and scientific officer at the Marine Biological
Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass.”
It’s probably not realistic to
expect to eliminate all arsenic exposure, but you can
certainly take steps to limit it. If you’re a wine drinker, for
instance, you may want to limit your drinks in light of this new
information (which you would want to do anyway from a health
standpoint). You could also contact the wine’s manufacturer and ask
about arsenic levels.
Another, probably more pressing,
aspect is to address arsenic in your drinking water. If you have
well water, it would be prudent to have your water tested for
arsenic and other contaminants. If you have public water, you can
get local drinking water information from the EPA.
If elevated arsenic levels are
detected, install a water filter, such as a reverse osmosis or
activated carbon system, to remove it. Other common-sense strategies
to help cut down on your exposure include:
- Limit your child’s
juice consumption. This is a general guideline for
optimal health anyway, as juices contain high amounts of
fructose that if taken in large quantities can cause very
serious health problems.
- Limit your rice
consumption. This includes not only whole rice but also
rice milk, rice crackers, and rice noodles. Do not allow
children to drink rice milk and avoid feeding infants rice
cereal.
- Buy organic, pastured
chicken. Organic standards do not allow organically
raised chickens to be given conventional feed grown with
synthetic pesticides.
- Avoid processed baby
food. Not only are many baby foods contaminated with
potentially toxic chemicals, they also tend to be loaded with
sugar and trans fats, and some may even contain genetically
engineered ingredients.
Source(s):
articles.mercola.com
|