Methanol - what is it? Methanol poisoning: symptoms and treatment

For sure, more than once each of us heard about the mass poisonings of counterfeit alcohol products (up to lethal outcomes), in which methanol was found. What is it and why is its impact on the organism so detrimental? Why is it added to alcoholic beverages? What could be the consequences of taking such products? To answer these questions, it is necessary to turn to the history of obtaining alcohol, to spread it in the spheres of human activity and to clinical research.

Methanol

Methanol - a colorless poisonous liquid, is the simplest monohydric alcohol and the first representative of the homologous series of monohydric alcohols. Also in the scientific community it is referred to as wood or methyl alcohol, carbinol or methyl hydroxide. The liquid is obtained by distilling wood or lignin - a complex substance, the remains of stiff walls of plant cells. Under laboratory conditions, the synthesis of methanol is the incomplete oxidation of methane, as well as the replication of methane through methyl chloride. This monohydric alcohol was first discovered in 1661 by Boyle when distilling dry wood. Two centuries later the scientist Zh. B. Dumas and E. M. Peligo succeeded in obtaining methanol in pure form. Synthesis of alcohol on an industrial scale began in 1923 in Germany. In everyday life, methanol is used as a solvent, the basis for antifreeze, fuel and octane additives to gasoline.

Influence on the body

Methyl alcohol is one of the most dangerous poisons of the planet. The ingestion of only 10 ml of this substance inside the human body can lead to irreversible pathological changes: blindness, impairment of the functioning of internal organs (kidneys, liver), and damage to parts of the brain. Death occurs if in the amount of 1-2 grams per kilogram of weight enters the body of methanol. What is it and why is such a small amount of substance capable of killing a person? The thing is that when ingested, the monohydric alcohol is oxidized to formaldehyde, a potent poison that affects the nervous system and reacts with proteins. In addition, the toxic effect manifests itself not immediately after the substance enters the blood, but after several hours. Therefore, before the appearance of the first symptoms of poisoning people usually manage to drink a lethal dose.

The danger of methanol

The main danger of the substance is that methanol and ethanol (the main component of alcohol production) can not be distinguished: they have the same taste and smell, both represent a colorless liquid. ). At the same time, the cost of methanol is much lower ( from 15,500 rubles per tonne ). For these reasons, they are often diluted with alcoholic beverages. Another danger of the substance is that poisoning can also occur as a result of using products containing methanol. What is it and how does it happen? Evaporation of antifreeze, liquids for washing glasses, paintwork materials contain the atoms of alcohol, which, getting into the body, accumulate and cause pathological changes. Therefore, not only an alcoholic can be poisoned, as is customary in our country, but also a user of a low-quality product.

Methanol poisoning

The first symptoms of poisoning occur 8-72 hours after taking methanol. Primarily, the central nervous system suffers: excessive sensitivity to light (photophobia), pupil dilated, headache, dizziness and deterioration in overall well-being, decreased sensitivity, and confusion.

Methanol poisoning is especially dangerous because of hyperemia, or an increase in the amount of blood in tissues and organs, which is due to a sharp increase in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin. As a result, the body swells, acquires a bluish tinge. Acceleration of the pathological process introduces the patient into a coma because of brain edema. Hyperemia leads to disruption of the respiratory system - breathing becomes deep and ineffective, the victim has a feeling of lack of air. Along with this, the pulse decreases, the heart can not cope with the "distillation" of a large amount of blood through the body and as a result refuses. Death comes.

First aid for poisoning

If the first signs of poisoning are found, immediately call an ambulance. If this is not possible, you should increase the amount of fluid consumed. It is advisable to drink alkaline drinks: mineral water, citric acid solution, and also to eat tomatoes, bananas, raisins, grapes, asparagus, honey and other products.

In clinical conditions, methanol poisoning is treated by introducing ethanol into the body. If you are not sure that the main poison is methanol, you should refuse to use vodka as an antidote. To save a person's life can be a profuse lavage of the stomach, artificially induced vomiting.

Terrifying statistics

In recent history, mankind has recorded seven cases of mass poisoning with methanol. The largest number of people suffered in July 1981 in India - of poisoning, 308 people died. In 2000, El Salvador's authorities suspected a terrorist attack, because as a result of drinking alcohol from methanol poisoning, 122 people died. It is noteworthy that none of the factories producing alcohol found this substance. In Russia, mass poisoning was recorded in December 2016 as a result of the use of the Hawthorn, a bath liquid, which later contained methanol. What this is and how the authorities allowed such a thing is unknown. But as a result of poisoning 123 people suffered, of which 76 died. December 20 was declared a day of mourning in the Irkutsk region.

The use of methanol

The greatest amount of methanol goes to the production of paint and varnish products. It is used as a solvent due to its high volatility and the ability to dissolve organic and polymeric substances. In European countries, a mixture of methyl and ethyl alcohols is used in perfumery. But in Russia, such products are banned, like any other consumer product with methanol. Because of the high octane number, some "masters" use methanol at home to produce high-octane fuel. On an industrial scale, alcohol is used to produce biofuel.

In nature, methyl alcohol is extremely rare and in small quantities. Basically it is essential oils of jasmine and gulletin. These oils include anthranil and salicylic acid. Methanol in their composition is not dangerous for humans. However, it can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, an excessive interest in oils can have a detrimental effect on well-being.