Methanol: effects on the human body if inhaled, first aid

Poisoning by methanol and ethanol everywhere cause of disability and death. This usually happens with people who are accustomed to using alcohol substitutes and not notice the difference between them. Of course, nobody can be insured against substandard products that are sold in stores, so you need to know how to recognize poisoning and what to do.

Physical properties

Methanol is a colorless liquid with a smell of alcohol, very soluble in water. Can be mixed with organic solvents such as benzene, acetone, and other alcohols. Upon contact with air, the mixture becomes explosive, quite sixteen degrees Celsius to be ignited. Lethal dose for man is 100 milliliters.

Production

On an industrial scale methanol can produce in several ways. For the first time the substance began to receive after the dry distillation of wood in combination with lignin, then came the technology of production of alcohol by the decomposition of salts of formic acid under high temperatures. When that became unprofitable, it was decided to synthesize methanol from methane by its partial oxidation. Now, this use of carbon dioxide and hydrogen with the joining of copper-zinc catalyst.

Recycling

Products methanol production heavily pollute the environment. The water used for cleaning and distillation, are so saturated with harmful substances, even after repeated filtration, sedimentation and chemical purification it is still undrinkable. Therefore, at the moment is the development of technologies for the production of methanol with a closed loop. This means that the water will be reused, rather than blend in, like biological or chemical waste. Given the problem of fresh water on Earth, this method would help to save valuable natural resources.

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Usage

On an industrial scale methanol is used as solvent for paints and varnishes, as a feedstock for further chemical production, as substrate for drugs. It is part of an antifreeze liquid. Most methanol used in the production of formaldehyde and as a gasoline additive, in addition, it is added to fuel for racing cars and motorcycles.

Many perfume companies use methanol in the production of perfume for long lasting fragrance, but also in the CIS such is prohibited by law on the rights of the consumers. In addition, in the extraction of gas and petroleum products are also used methanol. It acts on the salts deposited on the walls of the distillation tubes, thus maintaining their capacity.

Metabolism

The Characteristic symptoms of intoxication can be noticed within an hour after receiving the substance, but in some people symptoms may not appear until a day and a half. It is rapidly absorbed in the stomach, but is metabolized relatively slowly, therefore, eliminated from the body within a week. If the intervals between doses is small, the poison can accumulate. More than 70% of the substance excreted during breathing, the toxins practically do not decompose. The remaining 30% after neutralization in the liver leave the body with urine.

The Effect of methanol and ethanol on the human body is in violation of redox processes, causing hypoxia and acidosis. This, in turn, leads to a deficiency of vitamins C and B1, and the growth of intoxication. These alcohols belong to the category of neuro-vascular and protoplasmic poisons.

Effects on vision

As inhalation, and the ingestion effect of methanol on vision remains disastrous. The defeat of the optic nerve and retina can be observed in cases of acute intoxications, and chronic poisoning. The pathophysiologists believe that this is due to the metabolic products of methanol. They prevent adequate oxidative phosphorylation in the retina and inhibit oxygen-free glucose. And the lack of nutrients detrimental to the body. In addition, the methanol vapor can irritate mucous membranes, resulting in inflammation, swelling and pain.

Inhalation

Toxic fumes of formaldehyde rarely contain pure methanol. The effect on the human body by inhalation occurs in two stages. First comes the reaction to local irritation of mucous membranes, and after absorption into the bloodstream – systemic poisoning of the body. Clinical symptoms were as follows. The victim complains of dizziness, nausea, a sensation of fog before eyes due to severe intoxication. In addition, sharply reduced visual acuity, pain in the right hypochondrium. This poisoning is more often chronic than acute, as due to the strong irritation of the upper respiratory tract of the person avoids contact with the methanol.

Ingestion

Detrimental effect of methanol on the body often manifests itself in the use of denatured alcohol and other chemicals.To human risk are even ten milliliters of this “drink” and the dose to thirty ml can be fatal. However, one and the same person may respond differently to the methanol, if used continuously or with long intervals. Usually, people have seen a cyanotic (bluish), deep and rare breathing, possible seizures. Pulse speeded, reaction of pupils to light is absent. Most often, the death occurs due to cessation of breathing. If the person is conscious, he complains of stomach pain, flashing flies before the eyes, problems with vision. Even if the patient was able to survive in such a situation, the disruption of the liver will be irreversible.

Chronic poisoning

If it a decrease in color vision, retinal atrophy, swelling and death of the optic nerve, slow reaction of pupils to light stimulus. The person quickly gets tired, had headaches in the second half of the day, there is excessive irritability, tearfulness, emotional lability. If inhaled or drink substances contain virtually no methanol effect on the human body will be less noticeable. To show it will increase noise in the ears, frequent colds, coughing without apparent cause, headache, visual impairment.

The Effect of methanol on the skin has not been studied. This usually occurs simultaneously with the inhalation of fumes, so systemic manifestations predominate over the local. But the case when the painter spilled solvent itself on the clothes and shoes. Instead of change, the man continued to work. A few days after this incident, he was blind.

First aid

First we need to remove the methanol. The effect on the human body (first aid is given the pathogenesis of the poisoning in order to find the antidote) is poisoning by products of metabolism. So, someone who provides medical care, it is necessary to delay or prevent transition of methanol to formaldehyde. Do gastric lavage if victim is taken to hospital during the first two hours. Plus, shown intravenous infusion of 5% baking soda (1 liter), and after washing you need to drink this solution (2-4 liters). To maintain the required level of nutrition of the optic nerve and brain subcutaneously injected 500 ml of 5 % glucose. After emergency measures every half hour to drink a solution containing 5 g of soda. Also shown intravenous administration of a solution of lactic acid sodium, the volume to 4 liters per day.

All these activities are conducted hourly monitoring of acid-base status of the blood level of bicarbonates and the acidity of urine. It is also necessary to monitor the electrolyte level and adjust it as needed. Control of heart activity is required.

Ethyl alcohol-a substance that neutralizes the methanol. The effect on the human body manifests in such a way that liver enzymes are “busy” by the normal oxidation of ethanol and methanol will remain unchanged and will leave the body with exhaled air and urine. When it is known that the victim received a large dose of methyl alcohol, he immediately administered intravenously 5 % solution of ethanol in 5 % glucose solution at the rate of 1.5-2 g of alcohol per 1 kg of patient weight per day, constantly controlling the concentration of ethanol in the blood, as it is easy of medicine can turn into poison.

The Effect of methanol is detrimental not only to the target organs - affects all body systems. Therefore, symptomatic therapy includes oxygen inhalation, artificial respiration, bleeding, drugs for better nutrition of the heart muscle and maintaining its excitability and contractility. If a patient is having mental changes, then he is given sedatives. In extremely severe cases require hemodialysis.

Preventive measures

To date, specialists on safety is recommended in production to replace the methanol. The effect on the human body this substance exceeds the efficiency of its use. There is an alternative in the form of ethyl alcohol, synthetic alcohols. In particularly dangerous places wearing masks.

The Effect of methanol on the person as you can see, negative. In order to protect people from unnecessary contact with this substance, you should use the specific markings on the containing tanks and public materials, such as varnishes, paints and their solvents. Pipelines with methanol must be painted in the appropriate color to alert workers of housing and communal services, because it is not only toxic, but also explosive, especially in the vicinity of high voltage cables or gas pipes which are often laid together.

Finally I would like to appeal to those who, against all odds, regularly uses methanol: effects on the human body it exerts both instantly and gradually, and there is no guarantee that if you escaped poisoning before, it will not haunt you in the future. Be careful, read the labels!