Scientists have found dangerous levels of heavy metals in more than 100 types of red and white wine. The levels of industrial metals found in the wines, which came from around the world, exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health standards.
A study calculated the target hazard quotients, or THQ, for seven metal ions found in wine. The THQ is used by the EPA to determine safe levels of long-term exposure to chemicals. A THQ higher than 1 is indicative of a health risk, and prolonged exposure over a person’s lifetime can cause health problems.
Most wines proved to have a THQ from 50 to 200 per glass, and some of the wines studied had levels as high as 300.