[Asbestos fibers in alcoholic beverages. Contaminating role of filtration material].

The presence of asbestos fibres was searched for in samples of wines, brandies and spirits which had or had not been filtered through asbestos filters. The materials examined were filtered on a micropore membrane that was then handled for electron microscope examination. Asbestos fibres were identified by their morphology and X-ray diffraction pattern and in certain cases additionally by punctual ultimate analysis (Edax). The presence of chrysotile fibres, generally separate but sometimes in clumps, was found in all the drinks which had been filtered through asbestos filters, while the non filtered drinks contained only a small concentration that was approximately equal to the one found in water analysed elsewhere. Only two samples of liquor, raw or filtered through a filter not containing asbestos, were absolutely free from fibres. On the other hand, the use of mixed filters of asbestos and cellulose resulted in only contamination by such mineral fibres.