Bottles of beer, wine and spirits contain potentially harmful levels of toxic elements, such as lead and cadmium, in their enamelled decorations, a new study shows.
Bottles of beer, wine and spirits contain potentially harmful levels of toxic elements, such as lead and cadmium, in their enamelled decorations, a new study shows.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth analysed both the glass and enamelled decorations on a variety of clear and coloured bottles readily available in shops and supermarkets.
They showed that cadmium, lead and chromium were all present in the glass, but at concentrations where their environmental and health risks were deemed to be of low significance.
However, the enamels were of greater concern, with cadmium concentrations of up to 20,000 parts per million (ppm) in the decorated regions on a range of spirits, beer and wine bottles, and lead concentrations up to 80,000 ppm in the décor of various wine bottles. The limit for lead in consumer paints is 90 ppm.
Read more at University of Plymouth
Photo credit: jarmoluk via Pixabay
