From the case of the herbal liquor booth that took the lives of almost 10 people and injured almost 50 people, it created a lot of panic and concern among the public because the herbal liquor – illegal liquor is mixed with “methanol” or methyl alcohol, which is a dangerous substance that cannot be eaten like regular alcohol.
What is Methanol?
Methanol or methyl alcohol is a type of alcohol that is very toxic. It can be absorbed through the skin and breathing. If methanol is inhaled, it will irritate the respiratory system, causing bronchitis or acute poisoning. If methanol is drunk, the poison will spread into the bloodstream immediately, causing nausea, vomiting and may cause blindness. It can be severe enough to cause death from kidney inflammation and muscle death.
Methanol is normally used in industry. According to the Hazardous Substances Act, controlled by the Department of Factories, it is listed as a Type 1 hazardous substance (a hazardous substance whose production, import, export or possession must comply with specified criteria and methods) and is a Type 4 hazardous substance (a hazardous substance whose production, import, export or possession is prohibited) according to the Hazardous Substances Act, controlled by the Food and Drug Administration.
Properties of Methanol
Methanol is a clear, colorless liquid with an alcoholic odor, is easily evaporated and flammable, and is commonly used in many industries, such as as a fuel, a solvent, and as a raw material for the production of plastics and other chemicals.
The ratio of methanol that can enter the body and is not harmful
1. Eating: Do not eat at all
2. Contact: Do not exceed 40 mg/kg per day
3. Inhalation: Do not exceed 200 ppm or 260 mg/m^3
In the case of the herbal liquor booth that was in the news, methanol was mixed in instead of edible ethanol because the producer of this batch of herbal liquor and illicit liquor could not obtain ethyl alcohol, so methyl alcohol or methanol was purchased to mix in instead. It is estimated that methanol is half the cost, and this batch of herbal liquor and illicit liquor was sold to 18 herbal liquor booths.
If you don’t want to risk the dangers of methanol, you should choose to drink all types of alcohol from reliable sources or should abstain or stop drinking alcohol altogether because in addition to being risk-free, it is also good for your health.
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