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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ulysses!mhuxl!mhuxt!hstrop
From: hstrop@mhuxt.UUCP (trop)
Newsgroups: net.wines
Subject: Re: lead seals
Message-ID: <1292@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Mar-84 18:11:43 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.1292
Posted: Wed Mar 28 18:11:43 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Mar-84 00:49:34 EST
References: <619@hcr.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 24

Regarding lead seals on wine bottles:

Generally elemental lead when used as a seal will not cause
a problem, especially since the cork should keep the liquid
away from the metal. Lead use goes back a long time. It's use
was to show that the bottle had not been tampered with after
bottling. Lead is inexpensive and quite mallable, an ideal
seal material in ancient times.

Interestingly, the Romans used to produce wine in lead vessels
and would often end up with a sweeter wine due to the formation
of lead acetate. I say sweeter because this lead salt tastes
sweet. (Probably the world's first artificial sweetener). This
is also why lead based paints are such a problem. Besides
their natural toxicity, children actually like eating lead based paint.

With proper storage and handling, lead seals should not cause a
problem because the lead stays in an elemental form and is not
readily assimulated into your body.

			Next week: leaded glass and leaded gas,

			Harvey S. Trop
			mhuxt!hstrop