The use of enriched stable isotopic tracers of ⁵⁰Cr(VI) and ⁵³Cr(III) in a study of Cr speciation in wine and beer.

Wine and beer are beverages rich in polyphenols and other antioxidants that inhibit the existence of Cr (VI). To verify this hypothesis, the content of Cr (VI) in wine and beer samples was determined by applying a speciation analysis based on anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The total Cr concentrations in the wine and beer samples determined using ICP-MS ranged from 6 to 22 ng/mL Cr and 1.8-5 ng/mL Cr, respectively. The behaviour of Cr (III) and Cr (VI) was followed using enriched⁵⁰Cr (VI) and⁵³Cr (III) stable isotopic tracers added to the wine and beer samples. The results revealed that wine and beer do not contain toxic Cr (VI). In all the samples analysed, the concentration was below 0.06 ng/mL Cr (VI). It was also demonstrated that, due to the presence of antioxidants, the added isotopically enriched^50...