Does some beer contain arsenic

Answer 1

Yes, although as yet there doesn't seem to be a good source for data on the average concentration of arsenic in beer.

Arsenic is a fairly common element and is ordinarily found in water at low concentrations. That concentration can vary. In Bangladesh water taken from shallow aquifers ultimately proved to carry high levels of arsenic. One study of more than 2000 wells indicated that 35% were over the 50ug/L (microgram per liter) level allowed in Bangladesh and a little of 8% of the wells had 300ug/L. Evidence of arsenic toxicity from the higher concentration wells is considered "unmistakable". (http://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/78(9)1093.pdf).

Arsenic occurs in several different forms which have very different toxicity levels. This authentically complicates the analysis, so take the following observations about beer with a grain of salt.

Famously, back around 1900, certain beers in Great Britain had arsenic levels that were fatal to some customers. This was traced to the sugars used in certain batches of the cheaper beers and should not be a problem today. (The original analysis is in the medical journal The Lancet, but behind a pay-wall).

More recently, analysis from the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm319827.htm) and from Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/11/arsenic-in-your-food/index.htm) have shown that rice can carry surprising levels of arsenic. Since beer is often brewed from rice it seems reasonable to think that arsenic could become an issue.

In fact, a 2007 analysis from the Czech Republic showed concentrations of arsenic in six unnamed beers to range from 30 to 40 ug/L (http://www.rmi.cz/editor/image/analytika/pdf_cz_118.pdf). This is three to four times higher than the levels established by the EPA for allowable arsenic levels in drinking water. (Note that the EPA originally proposed 5 ppb, and New Jersey has adopted that more rigorous standard).

There are no known safe levels of arsenic. As far as I can tell, there is no systematic check for arsenic in beers. However, the evidence at hand does support the idea that (1) arsenic is present in certain beers and (2) there are a number of routes for arsenic to enter the brewing process.

Answer 2

By definition, no. Ethyl alcohol (CH3CH2OH) is the chemical most commonly referred to as alcohol. It is used in many products world wide including Alcoholic Beverages. Arsenic (As) is a chemical element which can be combined chemically with other elements to form Arsenic compounds, such as salts, which might be soluble in alcohol, or water. Some alcohol uses, solutions, may include beverages which, it is possible, could contain some amount of arsenic as well. Individual solutions would have to be tested to see if they do contain arsenic compounds, but the chemical known as alcohol does not.