Can you tell fake alcohol from real? Why is it so difficult to get methanol – Nationally
If you're going to travel abroad soon, experts are urging caution after the deaths of six tourists recently, many of them from confirmed methanol poisoning – an almost invisible killer that's hard to detect in contaminated alcohol.
Methanol is a clear, colorless alcohol used in all kinds of everyday products such as industrial cleaners, solvents, paints, cosmetics and antifreeze. Although methanol itself is harmless, it is fatal if ingested, explains Lewis Smith, national projects manager for the Canada Safety Council.
“When the human body consumes methanol, it converts it into two different types of chemicals in the body; it converts it to formaldehyde and then to formic acid. “To put it simply, the consumption of methanol causes the human blood to become acidic and that can quickly kill,” he told Global News.
On November 20, Canada issued a travel advisory after six tourists, most of them aged 19 to 20, died of suspected methanol poisoning in a popular backpacker town in northern Laos earlier this month.
“A number of foreigners in Vang Vieng have been victims of suspected methanol-adulterated alcohol poisoning,” the warning read. “Be careful if you choose to drink alcohol. Avoid accepting free or discounted drinks. Only buy alcohol in sealed bottles and cans from reputable stores. Seek medical help if you start to get sick.”
The advice comes after two young Australians and a British woman died of suspected methanol poisoning after drinking contaminated alcohol in Laos. An American man and two Danes also died, although their causes of death have not been released. A New Zealander has also been sick.
Methanol poisoning is a major health problem in Asia, with outbreaks frequently reported in countries such as Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of six foreigners, here's what Canadians need to know about methanol poisoning.
What is methanol poisoning?
There are three main types of alcohol: ethanol, methanol and isopropyl. Ethanol is found in consumer spirits and is the only one intended for consumption. Isopropanol is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers.
Methanol, often called wood alcohol because it is a product of wood distillation, is often used as a fuel and in products such as antifreeze and solvents.
It has a slight alcohol-like smell, although the smell is subtle and not too strong. Despite its similarity to ethanol (the type of alcohol commonly found in beverages), methanol is highly toxic, Smith said.
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“It takes such a small dose to be dangerous,” he said.
Consuming four milliliters of methanol (close to one teaspoon) can lead to blindness, while ingesting 25 to 90 milliliters (about one shot glass) can be fatal, according to the Methanol Institute.
If you've ingested methanol in an alcoholic beverage, it may be difficult to recognize it at first, Smith said, since the early symptoms can be similar to those of normal intoxication. Ingestion of a toxic substance causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness and vision problems.
After the initial symptoms of methanol poisoning subside, they usually appear six to 30 hours later, but with greater severity, Smith said. This delay in onset is what makes methanol poisoning so dangerous, as the effects can quickly worsen, leading to serious health problems.
“If methanol is consumed with ethanol, it may take a few days to see the symptoms,” he said. “When you eat ethanol and methanol at the same time, the ethanol is processed by the liver first, so the methanol just sits and waits there,” Smith said.
When the body begins to synthesize methanol, it becomes acidic in the blood, leading to toxic effects.
Because methanol poisoning is often not detected in the early stages due to the latent period between consumption and toxic effects, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that victims often seek medical help late, which contributes to high rates of morbidity and mortality.
After hours, symptoms such as headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and vertigo increase, as well as respiratory distress and visual impairment. Severe cases can lead to blindness, dehydration and death, according to the WHO.
Why is methanol added to drinks?
Methanol is often added intentionally and illegally to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol in countries where legal alcohol taxes or legal alcohol costs may be considered too high, Smith explained.
“It's cheap, that's the main reason for that. Many drinks have some form of ethanol in them, which is a very safe compound made from corn and wheat. “Methanol is hydrogenated carbon monoxide, so it's obviously very deadly, it's not something we should be consuming,” said Smith. But it is cheap and easy to produce in quantities, especially in countries where alcohol laws and regulations are less strict.”
Some illegally produced drinks are made to appear legal by bottle design and labeling and consumers can be misled into believing they are buying genuine alcohol. Bottles may be sold in stores, markets and bars, often at a “low price,” according to the Methanol Institute.
The trend is also not specific to Laos or Southeast Asia, but occurs wherever legal alcohol taxes or legal alcohol costs are perceived to be too high, the WHO warned.
How to treat methanol poisoning?
“When we talk about treating methanol poisoning, time is of the essence,” said Smith.
“Actually, it is cured in a few hours because when those symptoms start a second time, it is very difficult to treat it because at that time it is pushed into the body. The human body is already acidic, which can cause a lot of problems,” he said.
Methanol poisoning can be successfully treated if detected within 10 to 30 hours, says the Methanol Institute.
Fomepizole is the treatment of choice for methanol poisoning as it inhibits methanol metabolism, but it may not always be available, the center said. If fomepizole is not available, high doses of ethanol (such as whiskey or vodka) can be used instead, since ethanol is processed by the liver first, delaying the toxic effects of methanol.
How can you avoid it when you travel?
To protect yourself from methanol poisoning while drinking alcohol during travel, the WHO recommends several important safety measures.
First, he said to avoid buying or drinking alcohol that is not legally produced or sold, especially in informal places such as market stalls, where drinks can be offered at suspiciously low prices.
It's also important to check labels carefully, avoid unmarked containers or bottles with broken seals and watch out for products with misspelled names or typographical errors.
According to the Methanol Institute, alcoholic beverages such as canned beer, cider, wine and pre-mixed drinks are generally safe and rarely mixed with methanol. But the key is to make sure that the seal is not broken.
Smith said it is very important to recognize the symptoms of methanol poisoning – such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vision problems – and to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect poisoning.
“If you suspect that you have been poisoned with methanol or you are not sure about it and you are not feeling well, it is a good idea to seek medical help,” he said.
-From files from the Associated Press
