Original Articles: 2025 Vol: 17 Issue: 1
Levels and Potential Health Risks of Some Organic Contaminants in Locally Produced Alcoholic Beverages in Nigeria
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of organic contaminants present and its associated human health risk. Seven major contaminants methanol, propanol, acetaldehyde, benzene, benzaldehyde, ethyl acetate and ethyl carbamate were analyzed in different samples of our locally manufactured and exported alcoholic beverages in Nigeria. Analysis were carried out using Gas-Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The Estimated Daily In-take (EDI) and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) were assessed in the beverages. A total of 81 samples of nine different brands (9 for each brand) of our locally manufactured alcoholic beverages were analyzed. The results showed mean concentration (mg/l) ranges of the organic contaminants (Samples A-I) as follows methanol=(0.021 to 2.761), propanol=(N.D to 0.926), ethyl acetate=(0.024 to 3.807), benzaldehyde=(N.D to 0.873), benzene=(N.D to 0.018), Acetaldehyde and ethyl carbamate were not detected in any of the samples analyzed.. Based on the results, most of these spirit drinks might not be good for consumption due to benzene content which is a known carcinogen as declared by IARC and also methanol which was found in all the samples in concentrations higher than the permissible limit set by NAFDAC except in sample I. The human health risk assessment carried out in this work showed the values of the target hazard quotient was found to range from 1.8 × 10-5–4.0 × 10-3 in methanol, 4.2 × 10-4 –7.7 × 10-4 in propanol, 5.4 × 10-5–7.0 × 10-3 in ethyl acetate, 4.7 × 10-6–1.5 × 10-2 in benzaldehyde, while the carcinogenic human health risk assessment showed the health risk index to be 7.8 × 10-3 for benzene. All the samples had THQË?1 for the organic contaminants which means they pose no significant risk.