If you’re soon traveling abroad, experts are urging you to be careful after the recent deaths of six tourists, many from confirmed methanol poisoning – an almost invisible killer that’s difficult to detect in tainted alcohol.
Methanol is a transparent, colorless alcohol used in all types of everyday products such as industrial cleaners, solvents, paints, cosmetics, and antifreeze. Louis Smith, director of national projects at the Canadian Safety Council, explained that while methanol itself is not harmful, it becomes fatal when consumed.
“When the human body consumes methanol, it converts it into two different types of chemical compounds in the body; It converts it into formaldehyde and then formic acid. To put it simply, methanol consumption makes a person’s blood acidic and can become fatal very quickly.
On November 20, Canada Travel warning issued After six tourists, aged between 19 and 20, died from suspected methanol poisoning in a popular backpacker town in northern Laos earlier this month.
“Many foreigners in Vang Vieng have become victims of alcohol poisoning adulterated with methanol,” the warning said. “Be vigilant if you choose to drink alcohol. Avoid accepting free or very low-priced drinks. Only buy alcohol in sealed bottles and cans from reputable stores. Seek medical help if you start to feel ill.
The warning comes after two Australian teenagers and a British woman died from methanol poisoning after drinking contaminated alcohol in Laos. An American man and two Danes also died, although the exact causes of their deaths have not been revealed. A New Zealand citizen also contracted the disease.
Methanol poisoning is a major health problem in Asia, with frequent outbreaks being reported in countries such as Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. According to Doctors Without Borders.
As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 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 alcohol. Ethanol is what is in consumers’ souls and is the only one intended for consumption. Isopropanol is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers.
Methanol, commonly called wood alcohol because it is a byproduct of wood distillation, is frequently used as a fuel and in products such as antifreeze and solvents.
It has a faint alcohol-like odor, although the scent is mild and not too strong. Although similar to ethanol (the type of alcohol commonly found in beverages), methanol is highly toxic, Smith said.
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“It takes a small dose like this to be lethal,” he said.
Consuming as little as four milliliters of methanol (roughly one teaspoon) can lead to blindness, while ingesting between 25 to 90 milliliters (roughly about one cup) can be fatal, according to the report. Methanol Institute.
If you’ve ingested methanol in an alcoholic beverage, it may be difficult to detect at first, Smith said, because the initial symptoms can resemble those of regular intoxication. Drinking the toxic substance causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vision problems.
After the initial symptoms of methanol poisoning subside, they usually appear again six to 30 hours later, but with much greater severity, Smith said. This delay in onset is what makes methanol poisoning especially dangerous, as the effects can quickly worsen, leading to more serious health complications.
“If methanol is consumed with ethanol, it may take a few days for symptoms to appear,” he said. “When you consume ethanol and methanol at the same time, the ethanol is processed by the liver first, so the methanol stays and waits there,” Smith said.
Once the body begins metabolizing methanol, it turns into acid in the bloodstream, resulting in toxic effects.
Since methanol poisoning often goes unnoticed in the early stages due to the latent period between ingestion and toxic effects, The World Health Organization warned Victims usually seek medical care late, which contributes to high morbidity and mortality rates.
Hours later, symptoms such as headache, vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness appear, along with shortness of breath and poor vision. Severe cases can lead to blindness, coma and death, according to the World Health Organization.
Why is methanol added to drinks?
Methanol is often intentionally and illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a substance Cheaper alternative to ethanol In countries where taxes on legal alcohol or the cost of legal alcohol may be viewed as too high, Smith explained.
“Cheap is the main reason for this. Most drinks contain some form of ethanol, which is a very safe compound made from corn and wheat. Methanol is hydrogenated carbon monoxide, so it’s obviously more lethal, and not something we should be consuming,” Smith said. “But it is cheaper and easier to produce in quantities, especially in countries where alcohol laws and regulations are not quite as strict.”
Some illicitly produced drinks are made to look legitimate through bottle design and labeling, and consumers can be misled into thinking they are purchasing an authentic brand of alcohol. Bottles can be sold in stores, markets and bars, often at a “bargain price,” according to the Methanol Institute.
The World Health Organization has warned that the practice is not limited to Laos or Southeast Asia, but occurs where taxes on legal alcohol or the cost of legal alcohol are viewed as too high.
How to treat methanol poisoning?
“When we talk about treating methanol poisoning, time is of the essence,” Smith said.
“Ideally, it treats within hours because once those symptoms appear the second time, it becomes more difficult to be able to treat them because, at that point, they’re being pushed through the body. The person’s body is now acidic, which can create a whole host of “Problems.”
Methanol poisoning can be effectively treated if diagnosed within 10 to 30 hours, the Methanol Institute said.
Fomepizole is the treatment of choice for methanol poisoning because it inhibits methanol metabolism, but it may not always be available, the institute said. If fomepizole is not accessible, high doses of ethanol (eg whiskey or vodka) may be used instead, as ethanol is processed by the liver first, delaying the toxic effects of methanol.
How to avoid it when traveling?
To protect yourself from methanol poisoning while consuming alcohol while travelling, the World Health Organization recommends several key precautions.
First, it stipulates avoiding the purchase or consumption of alcohol that is not produced or sold legally, especially from informal places such as market stalls, where drinks can be offered at suspiciously low prices.
It’s also important to check labels carefully, stay away from unlabeled containers or bottles with broken seals and beware of brand-name products with poorly printed labels or typographical errors.
According to the Methanol Institute, alcoholic beverages such as canned beer, cider, wine, and pre-mixed beverages are generally safer and less likely to be mixed with methanol. But the key is to make sure you don’t break the seal.
Smith said it’s very important to know the symptoms of methanol poisoning — such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vision problems — and to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect poisoning.
“If you suspect you have methanol poisoning or even if you’re not sure and don’t feel well, it’s a good idea to seek medical help,” he said.
—With files from The Associated Press
