List of methanol poisoning incidents
Methanol outbreaks[1] have occurred when methanol is used to adulterate 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,[2] although the median lethal dose is typically 100 mL (4 fl oz) (i.e. 1–2 mL/kg body weight of pure methanol[3]). Reference dose for methanol is 0,5 mg/kg/day.[4] Toxic effects take hours to start, and effective antidotes can often prevent permanent damage.[2] Because of its similarities in both appearance and odor to ethanol (the alcohol in beverages), it is difficult to differentiate between the two.
Cambodia
In 2012 as many as 318 people were hospitalized, and 49 died.[5]
Czech Republic
The 2012 Czech Republic methanol poisonings occurred in September 2012 in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.[6] Over the course of several days, 38 people in the Czech Republic[7] and 4 people in Poland died as a result of methanol poisoning and several tens of others were taken to hospital.[8][9]
Estonia
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
India has a thriving moonshine industry, and methanol-tainted batches have killed over 1,000 people in the last 3 decades.
- 1981: About 308 people in Karnataka, see 1981 Karnataka liquor deaths.
- 1992: More than 200 people in Odisha, see 1992 Odisha liquor deaths.
- 2001: 27 deaths in Bombay.[10]
- 2006: 22 people killed in Ganjam district, Orissa.
- 2008: 148 people in Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, December.[11]
- 2009: 27 people killed in Kolkata, West Bengal
- 2009: 29 people killed in Uttar Pradesh
- 2009: 170 people in Karnataka, December.[12]
- 2009: 136 people in Gujarat, July, see 2009 Gujarat alcohol poisonings.
- 2009: >30 deaths, Delhi.[10]
- 2009: >30 deaths, Orissa Bolangir.[10]
- 2010: 35 people killed in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr districts, Uttar Pradesh
- 2010: 23 people killed in Malappuram district, Kerala
- 2010: 10 deaths, Uttar Pradesh.[10]
- 2011: 17 dead in andhra Pradesh, August.[13]
- 2011: 170 people in West Bengal, December.[14]
- 2011: 156 people in Sangrampur, December, see Sangrampur methanol tragedy.
- 2012: 17 deaths, Andhra Pradesh.[10]
- 2012: 31 deaths, Orissa.[10]
- 2012: 18 people died in Gurdaspur district of Punjab in a possible methanol-poisoning incident. The Chemical Analyzer and Histo-pathology department took care of the bodies and will ascertain the exact cause of death.[15]
Libya
At least 51 people died in Tripoli in 2013.[16] The consumption and sale of alcohol is illegal in Libya.[16]
Madagascar
The Madagascar methanol mass poisoning occurred in 1998 when 200 people died.[17]
Turkey
In Istanbul, 21 people died in 2004 and 23 people died in 2005.[10] In 2011, five people died in an incident in the Turkish Riviera.
External links
References
- ^ http://www.who.int/selection_medicines/committees/expert/19/applications/Fomepizole_4_2_AC_Ad.pdf
- ^ a b Vale A (2007). "Methanol". Medicine. 35 (12): 633–4. doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2007.09.014.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help) - ^ "Methanol Poisoning Overview". Antizol. Retrieved 4/10/11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) dead link - ^ Methanol (CASRN 67-56-1)
- ^ Xinhua 49 Cambodians die, 318 hospitalized by home-made rice wine February 15, 2012
- ^ "Pierwsze przypadki zatrucia metanolem na Słowacji" (in Polish). dziennik.pl. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ "S otravou metylalkoholem bojoval v nemocnici měsíc, nakonec zemřel" (in Czech). novinky.cz. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Metanol má 21. oběť, zemřela žena z Českého Těšína" (in Czech). Novinky.cz. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ "Cztery śmiertelne zatrucia metanolem w Polsce. Dwa przez czeski alkohol?" (in Polish). tvn24.pl. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g World Health Organization (PDF)
- ^ Who, What, Why: Why are Indians dying from alcohol poisoning? 15 December 2011
- ^ PressTV Bootleg liquor kills 170 in east India Dec 16, 2011
- ^ "BBC News - India toxic alcohol 'kills 17' in Andhra Pradesh". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
- ^ BBC News India doctors fight to save West Bengal alcohol victims 16 December 2011
- ^ "One more dies in Batala hooch tragedy,toll increases to 18". 10-11-2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Alcohol poisoning kills 51 in Libya". BBC News. 11 March 2013.
- ^ news.bbc.co.uk Deadly brew hits Madagascar 29 March 2002
