The research done into heavy metals in wine (Wein-Plus reported on this) appears to berather controversial. It remains open whether consumers really need to be warned about the presence of vanadium, lead and chrome in wine.

In particular the conclusion by the British researchers that the levels of heavy metals found in some wines were worrying in case of continuous use are apparently not shared by all their colleagues. The so-called Target Health Quotient (THQ) used for the study at Kingston University is a measure rarely used either in the United Kingdom or in Germany. It appears that the limits set by the European Union - which however are also not unreservedly accepted by all scientists - were not exceeded by the wines in the study. Certainly, lay consumers are in no position to judge whether daily consumption of a quarter litre of wine containing heavy metals, as suggested by the British study, is likely to be injurious to health or not.

The topic of heavy metals found in wine is not a new one, and has been the subject of several studies. Lead, copper and other substances can be absorbed from the soil via the roots of vines, in addition it is possible that wines or musts can also be contaminated by cellar equipment and chemicals used in the cellar. (WF)