Containers containing the following can cause metal poisoning:
(1) lead (as container, pot liner, solder for joints)
(2) iron
(3) pewter (an alloy of tin and lead)
Risk factors:
(1) use of brewing vessels that are made of or contain the toxic metal
(2) acidic brew
(3) boiling the brew
(4) prolonged contact with the brewing vessel
(5) preference for the taste of the metal
(6) high intake of the contaminated ethanol
(7) one of the following in the alcohol producers:
(7a) ignorance of the risk
(7b) know the risk but do not care
(7c) know the risk and wants to harm
where:
• Lead acetate has a sweet taste ("sugar of lead", lead sugar) that some people have a preference for.
• Beer brewed in iron pots may be associated with hemosiderosis.
• Copper and bronze pots are not used since they can give the alcohol an unpleasant metallic taste.
• In theory grain or grapes grown on soils contaminated with a metal could be another risk factor.
• In ancient Rome grape juice boiled in lead pots was used in many foodstuffs as a preservative. Sapa is estimated to have contained 1 gram of lead per liter.
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Latin Term for Volume Reduced Grape Juice
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Volume Reduction
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Use
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carenum
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by one third
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defrutum
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by half
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cosmetic, food preservative, wine sweetener and preservative
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sapa
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by two thirds
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cosmetic, wine preservative
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