Methanol poisoning incidents have occurred as an international problem when methanol is part of moonshine (bootleg liquor).
Methanol has a high toxicity in humans. If as little as 10 mL of pure methanol is ingested, for example, it can break down into formic acid, which can cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve, and 30 mL is potentially fatal,[1] although the median lethal dose is typically 100 mL (4 fl oz) (i.e. 1–2 mL/kg body weight of pure methanol[2]). Reference dose for methanol is 0,5 mg/kg/day[3]. Toxic effects take hours to start, and effective antidotes can often prevent permanent damage.[1] Because of its similarities in both appearance and odor to ethanol (the alcohol in beverages), it is difficult to differentiate between the two.
In 2012 as much as 318 people were hospitalized, 49 died.[4]
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Main article: 2012 Czech Republic methanol poisonings |
The 2012 Czech Republic methanol poisonings occurred in September 2012 in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.[5] In the course of several days, 38 people in the Czech Republic[6] and 4 people in Poland have died as a result of methanol poisoning and several tens of others have been taken to hospital.[7][8]
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Main article: Pärnu methanol tragedy |
The Pärnu methanol tragedy, occurred in Pärnu county, Estonia, in September 2001, when 68 people died and 43 were left disabled after contents of stolen methanol canisters were used in production of bootleg liquor.
India has a thriving moonshine industry, methanol-tainted batches have killed hundreds of people over the years:
The Madagascar methanol tragedy occurred in 1998 where 200 people died after an entire village was poisoned.[13]
