Cited by 158Carcinogens and Genotoxicity AssessmentMycotoxins in Agriculture and FoodAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Carcinogenic compounds in alcoholic beverages: an update

Pflaum, Tabea, Hausler, Thomas, Baumung, Claudia, Ackermann, Svenja, Kuballa, Thomas, Rehm, Jürgen, Lachenmeier, Dirk W.·2016·Archives of Toxicology

Abstract

The consumption of alcoholic beverages has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 1988. More recently, in 2010, ethanol as the major constituent of alcoholic beverages and its metabolite acetaldehyde were also classified as carcinogenic to humans. Alcoholic beverages as multi-component mixtures may additionally contain further known or suspected human carcinogens as constituent or contaminant. This review will discuss the occurrence and toxicology of eighteen carcinogenic compounds (acetaldehyde, acrylamide, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethanol, ethyl carbamate, formaldehyde, furan, glyphosate, lead, 3-MCPD, 4-methylimidazole, N-nitrosodimethylamine, pulegone, ochratoxin A, safrole) occurring in alcoholic beverages as identified based on monograph reviews by the IARC. For most of the compounds of alcoholic beverages, quantitative risk assessment provided evidence for only a very low risk (such as margins of exposure above 10,000). The highest risk was found for ethanol, which may reach exposures in ranges known to increase the cancer risk even at moderate drinking (margin of exposure around 1). Other constituents that could pose a risk to the drinker were inorganic lead, arsenic, acetaldehyde, cadmium and ethyl carbamate, for most of which mitigation by good manufacturing practices is possible. Nevertheless, due to the major effect of ethanol, the cancer burden due to alcohol consumption can only be reduced by reducing alcohol consumption in general or by lowering the alcoholic strength of beverages.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00204-016-1770-3

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  • The main pathway by which alcohol use is hypothesized to increase cancer risk is through the metabolism of ethanol into acetaldehyde, which forms DNA adducts leading to cancer development.

    “Based on current evidence, the main pathway by which alcohol use is hypothesized to increase the risk of cancer is through the metabolism of ethanol into its carcinogenic metabolite acetaldehyde, which forms DNA adducts leading to the development of cancer (see review in 143).”

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Authors
Pflaum, T., Hausler, T., Baumung, C., Ackermann, S., Kuballa, T., Rehm, J., & Lachenmeier, D. W.
Affiliations
  • Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Karlsruhe (DE)
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
Corresponding author
Lachenmeier, Dirk W.
Venue
Archives of Toxicology
Published
2016-06-29
Volume
90
Issue
10
Pages
2349-2367
ISSN
  • 0340-5761 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0738
OpenAlex
W2473946215
Cited by
158
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 2
FWCI
1.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Toxicology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
alcoholic beverages, human carcinogens, ethanol, acetaldehyde, acrylamide, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethyl carbamate, formaldehyde, furan, glyphosate, lead, 3-MCPD, 4-methylimidazole, N-nitrosodimethylamine, pulegone, ochratoxin A, safrole, quantitative risk assessment, margin of exposure, good manufacturing practices, alcohol content reduction
MeSH terms
Acetaldehyde, Ethanol, Alcoholic Beverages, Carcinogens, Humans, Lead, Neoplasms, Risk Assessment

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