What is methanol poisoning, what are the symptoms and how can it be treated?

Two young Aussie women are among six who have died from methanol poisoning while holidaying in Laos this week.

Melbourne woman Bianca Jones, 19, and her best friend Holly Bowles passed away in hospital after becoming fatally ill when they consumed drinks spiked with methanol.

In the wake of the mass fatalities, SmartTraveller has updated its website to warn travellers about the importance of being “alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks, including cocktails”.

WHAT IS METHANOL?

Methanol is a toxic alcohol used in different household and industrial agents.

It has a different chemical structure to ethanol — the usual alcohol used in drinks — which makes it toxic to humans.

Methanol is a colourless, odourless liquid that can be hard to detect in drinks because it tastes and looks like ethanol.

Alcohol is less regulated in other parts of the world, which can lead businesses in many popular tourist destinations, including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Turkey, to use methanol in drinks due to its low production costs .

However, as little as one shot can be fatal.

HOW IS METHANOL POISONOUS?

Human bodies can not safely metabolise methanol.

When methanol is broken down, it turns into formic acid, which can poison cells’ mitochondria.

This can cause severe damage to major body organs and metabolic acidosis — a condition that occurs when too much acid builds up in the body.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF METHANOL POISONING?

Symptoms of methanol poisoning may not show for 12 to 24 hours and can present in many different ways.

Eyes:

• Full or partial blindness
• Blurred vision
• Dilation of pupils
• Changes in colour perception
• Difficulty looking at bright lights

Breathing:

• Difficulty breathing

Stomach:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Neurological:

• Seizures
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• fatigue
• Coma

HOW CAN METHANOL POISONING BE TREATED?

It is important to act quickly if someone suspects they have consumed methanol.

The affected individual should be urgently taken to hospital, where they will undergo treatments to remove methanol from their bodies.

This is sometimes done by giving the person ethanol, which can prevent methanol from being metabolised.

For more information, see Smarttraveller Medical assistance on what to do if you become sick overseas.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN TRAVELLING

SmartTraveller urges people to consider the following to protect themselves from methanol poisoning:

• Consider the risks when drinking alcoholic beverages
• Be careful drinking cocktails and drinks made with spirits
• Drink only at reputable licensed premises
• Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
• Remember, drink labels are not always accurate