Deadly dangers of methanol in bootleg liquor

The common methanol poison in bootleg liquor differs from ethanol only by the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms, but can be deadly in small doses.

Methanol is a common synthetic alcohol commonly used in coolants and windshield wipers, according to Live Science. Similar to ethanol, this type of alcohol is commonly found in wine, but methanol is toxic to the body. At the molecular level, it differs from ethanol only by containing one fewer carbon atom and two fewer hydrogen atoms, leading to different ways in which the kidneys process the two types of alcohol.

The main ingredient in regular drinking alcohol is ethanol, which has the chemical formula C2H5OH, while methanol has the chemical formula CH3OH. Both types of alcohol are produced by fermentation and distillation.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the process of metabolizing ethanol in the liver begins when an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase converts the chemical into another toxic chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is rapidly metabolized and will turn into non-toxic CO2 and water in just a few steps.

However, methanol metabolism is not as smooth. This chemical depresses the central nervous system in the same way as ethanol. Therefore, in large doses, methanol can be fatal, as in common alcohol poisoning.

Unlike ethanol (the type of alcohol commonly found in alcoholic beverages), when methanol is consumed, the human body produces formaldehyde, formic acid and formate, which are toxic to the body.

Of these, formate is the main toxin produced, acting in a similar way to cyanide and blocking the process of energy production in cells, and the brain appears to be particularly vulnerable to this substance.

Methanol poisoning affects many different parts of the body, causing a range of symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, visual disturbances (which can include partial or total loss of vision) and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, methanol poisoning can cause convulsions, coma and death.

According to Dr. Wayne Carter, associate professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham (UK), the amount of methanol that causes death depends on the individual, it can be 15ml of a solution containing 40% methanol.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, said that ethanol is metabolized very quickly when entering the body, while methanol is the opposite, the rate of metabolism and excretion is very slow (after 7-8 days it can still exist in the blood).

The process is very slow, leading to symptoms of methanol poisoning sometimes appearing only after many hours or days. As soon as signs of poisoning appear, chemical reactions occur very quickly, creating the final product of formic acid, a slow-metabolizing chemical found in ant stings.

Formic acid buildup damages the optic nerve, which can lead to permanent blindness and even death if not detected early.

Due to its toxicity, methanol is sometimes added to ethanol-containing products used in industry as a solvent to eliminate their use as a beverage. By adding methanol, manufacturers can avoid taxes on alcoholic beverages and sell their products at a lower production cost.

Some illegal and irresponsible businesses often add methanol to alcoholic beverages because it is cheaper than producing ethanol. Additionally, unintentionally high levels of methanol can be created during the fermentation of beverages with high pectin concentrations, such as those made from grapes and strawberries. During proper clean fermentation, methanol is produced at low and safe levels. However, bacteria can cause methanol to be produced at higher levels in unsanitary containers.

There are many forms of methanol poisoning such as drinking fake alcohol, drinking antiseptic alcohol… Most of the cases hospitalized are very serious, coma, metabolic acidosis, some people have eye and brain damage, blindness in one side, and even death has been recorded.

According to experts, authorities need to strictly manage industrial methanol alcohol, avoid the situation of making fake alcohol by mixing methanol, causing poisoning, dangerous and long-term effects on the health of the drinker.