Methanol Intoxications in Adana, Turkey

Abstract

Methanol is a highly toxic substance that is commonly used as an industrial solvent and antifreeze in automobiles. Methanol intoxication usually occurs following inhalation or topical exposure of spirit, homemade alcohol, or eau de cologne. The goal of this study was to examine methanol fatalities and methanol poisoning characteristics in our region and to contribute to form a database concerning methanol intoxication cases in our country. The records of the Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine Adana Group Administration, were reviewed retrospectively for all methanol poisoning deaths for the period of January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2003. Age, gender, death places, methanol blood levels of the cases, and consumed products were recorded. Total number of deaths between 1997 and 2003 was 4725 and the number of deaths due to methanol poisoning was 41 (0.86%) during this period; 38 (92.68%) of the total methanol fatality cases were male and three (7.32%) female, with an age range of 16 to 54 years.

A systematic review of the epidemiology of unrecorded alcohol consumption and the chemical composition of unrecorded alcohol

“…The overwhelming majority of these deaths are due to ethanol. Deaths due to methanol poisoning as reported in the published literature account for fewer than 1000 deaths in any given year ( in addition to the methanol deaths in India reported above). Publications on methanol deaths stem from three sources: case studies (e.g.…”

Unrecorded consumption, quality of alcohol and health consequences

“…EU provides limits for certain spirits [67]. Several methanol poisoning outbreaks associated with unrecorded alcohol [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85].…”

Chemical Components of Noncommercial Alcohol Beverage Samples: A Study With the Viewpoint of Toxic Components in Mashhad, Iran

“…The problem of inadmissible methanol in noncommercial alcohol samples is noticeable. Roughly, less than 0.1% of the global alcohol-attributed deaths are due to methanol (corresponds to 2,740 deaths based on the global burden of disease) (3, 4). Other than methanol, there are other potential toxic effects of noncommercial alcohol samples due to ingredients other than ethanol.…”