Contamination of cachaca by PAHs from storage containers

Cachaca is a distiled beverage obtained from the fermentation of sugar cane syrup that, depending on the production procedures, may be susceptible to contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds present carcinogenic and/or mutagenic properties and offer a risk to human health. Sixteen PAHs were determined in cachacas that had been stored in glass bottles and in polyethylene tank by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The quantification of the PAHs utilised an internal standard. The limits of detection and quantification varied from 0.05 to 0.10 mu g L-1 and 0.20 to 0.30 mu g L-1, respectively. A total PAH concentration of 51.57 mu g L-1 was found in the beverages that were stored in the tank, while the concentration in the cachaca stored in glass jugs was 6.07 mu g L-1 These results indicate that the polyethylene tank is a source for PAHs in cachaca. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.