What harm does methanol do to the body

We all know that a new house needs to be ventilated for a while after decoration is completed before moving in to avoid formaldehyde poisoning and harm to the body. However, many people may not know the harm that methanol does to the body. Methanol is common in various pesticides, and ingestion of more than four grams can cause poisoning, blindness, brain nerve damage, and even life-threatening.

1. How harmful is methanol to the human body?

Methanol is highly toxic and has the greatest impact on the human nervous system and blood system. It will produce toxic reactions if ingested through the digestive tract, respiratory tract or skin. Methanol vapor can damage human respiratory mucosa and vision. Methanol is metabolized by the human body to produce formaldehyde and formic acid (commonly known as formic acid), which then cause harm to the human body.

2. Common symptoms in methanol

Common symptoms of methanol exposure include a feeling of being drunk, followed a few hours later by headaches, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision. In severe cases, people may become blind or even die. Brain nerves can also be damaged, causing permanent damage. When formic acid enters the blood, it makes tissues increasingly acidic, damaging the kidneys and leading to kidney failure.

2. The harm of excessive methanol intake

If methanol intake exceeds 4 grams, poisoning reaction will occur. Accidentally ingesting a small cup of more than 10 grams can cause blindness, and large amounts can cause death. The lethal dose is above 30 ml. Methanol is not easily excreted from the body and will accumulate. It is oxidized in the body to produce formaldehyde and formic acid, which are also toxic. In methanol production plants, relevant Chinese authorities have stipulated that the allowable methanol concentration in the air is 5 mg/m3. When working on-site with methanol gas, one must wear a gas mask, and wastewater must be treated before being discharged.

3. What to do if you are poisoned by methanol

Methanol poisoning can usually be detoxified with ethanol. The principle is: methanol itself is non-toxic, but its metabolites are toxic, so it can be detoxified by inhibiting metabolism. Methanol and ethanol are metabolized by the same enzyme in the human body, but this enzyme has a greater affinity for ethanol. Therefore, people who suffer from methanol poisoning can alleviate the metabolism of methanol by drinking strong liquor (alcohol content is usually above 60 degrees), thereby excreting it from the body. The formic acid produced by the metabolism of methanol can be neutralized by taking baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).