Overview
This study analyzed volatile compounds, glycerol and trace elements in 13 artisanal alembic spirits from Mozambique, made from sugarcane, cashew, nuts or cereal. Lead was found in every sample and copper exceeded the Brazilian 5 mg/L limit in three sugarcane spirits. Cadmium and chromium were not detected.
Key numbers
- Lead: “0.60 ± 0.04” to “3.66 ± 0.05”, printed under a µg/L header (Table 3, p. 510); the text reports the same numbers as 0.6 to 3.66 mg/L and says all exceed the 0.2 mg/L limit (p. 511).
- Cereal spirits (samples 11 to 13): lead “3.66 ± 0.05”, “2.28 ± 0.06”, “1.55 ± 0.05” (Table 3).
- Copper: sugarcane spirits 9 and 10 “34.83 ± 0.23” and “28.10 ± 0.17” mg/L (Table 3).
Methods (brief)
Spirits were prepared following a Brazilian beverage method and analyzed by flame AAS in triplicate, with calibration from 0.05 to 8.0 mg/L. No detection limits, reference materials or recoveries are reported. Per-litre values are kept unconverted.
Evidence Fitness
One or two samples per district and an unresolved unit conflict for lead, zinc and iron (µg/L in the table, mg/L in the text) make the lead values uncertain by a factor of 1000; they carry integrity flags. The cereal-based spirits are a proxy for vodka (no vodka was measured), so that page is not linked.
Related evidence
Update history
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