What is methanol? How does it get into drinks and cause harm?

Two Australian teenagers seriously unwell in hospital in Thailand after suspected methanol poisoning while traveling in Laos.

According to reports, the couple is, amongst others, several foreigners turn out to be unwell after unknowingly consuming alcoholic beverages containing methanol in a Southeast Asian country.

So what is methanol and how does it cause disease?

Methanol versus ethanol

Methanol Is alcohollike a friend ethanol we devour in alcoholic beverages.

Like ethanol, methanol is a colorless, flammable liquid. It also has an ethanol-like odor.

But each have different chemical structure. Methanol consists of just one carbon atom, while ethanol has two.

That one carbon atom makes a difference. This implies that methanol is processed in a different way in our bodies and is rather more toxic than ethanol.

Methanol is utilized in: various industrial and household productsreminiscent of window cleaners, antifreeze and fuel. Not secure for human consumption.

What makes methanol toxic?

The difference lies in the best way our bodies metabolize or break down methanol.

Ethanol is metabolized into a chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is toxic, but quickly converts to acetate (also generally known as acetic acid, present in vinegar). Producing acid could seem bad, but it is actually acetate it produces energy and produces vital molecules within the body.

However, methanol is metabolized to formaldehyde (a chemical utilized in industrial adhesives and, for instance, for embalming corpses), and then to formic acid (the chemical present in some ant bites that makes them hurt a lot).

Unlike acetate, which the body uses, formic acid poisons mitochondriacell power plants.

As a result, an individual exposed to methanol may suffer serious injuries metabolic acidosisthat is, when an excessive amount of acid accumulates within the body.

Methanol poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Acidosis then causes depression of the central nervous system, which can cause lack of consciousness and coma in people poisoned with methanol, in addition to damage to the retina resulting in lack of vision. This is since the retinas are stuffed with energetic mitochondria and are sensitive to their damage.

Death is not inevitable if only a small amount of methanol is ingested, and prompt treatment will greatly reduce the damage.

However, everlasting vision damage can occur even with non-lethal doses if treatment is not given promptly.

What is the treatment?

Treatment it mainly involves supportive care reminiscent of intubation and mechanical ventilation to assist the patient breathe.

But it may apply to drugs reminiscent of fomepizole (inhibiting the production of toxic formic acid) and dialysis to remove methanol and its metabolites from the body.

How does methanol get into alcoholic beverages?

Methanol can appear in any alcoholic drink, but is most probably to look in drinks with higher alcohol content, reminiscent of spirits, and traditionally brewed drinks, reminiscent of fruit wines.

Methanol can enter alcoholic beverages in some ways. Sometimes it is added intentionally and illegally during or after production as a less expensive solution to increase the alcohol content of a drink.

Traditional brewing methods it may unintentionally produce methanol, in addition to ethanol and produce toxic levels of methanol depending on the microorganisms and kind of plant materials utilized in the fermentation process.

We don’t yet understand how Australian teenagers were poisoned on this tragedy. However, when traveling (especially to areas where fermented beverages are traditionally found, reminiscent of Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and parts of Africa), it is at all times value exercising caution.

Australian Government Smartraveller website advises that to avoid methanol poisoning, watch out when drinking cocktails and spirits, drink only in reputable, licensed establishments and avoid home-made alcoholic beverages.

Drinking only mass-produced industrial brews could also be safer, although understandably people often wish to try local brews as a part of their adventure.