Fatty acid ethyl esters toxicity

Saghir M. Werner J, Laposata M. The rapid and extensive hydrolysis of fatty acid ethyl esters, toxic nonoxidative ethanol metabolites, in the gastrointestinal tract and circulation of rats. Am J Physiol (Gash ointest Liver Physiol 36) 1997 273 G184-G190. 

THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF FATTY ACID ETHYL ESTERS... 

Alcohols are the most frequently used acyl acceptors, particularly methanol and, to a lesser extent, ethanol. Other alcohols can be used, eg, propanol, butanol, isopropanol, ferf-butanol, branched alcohols, and octanol, but the cost is much higher. Regarding the choice between methanol and ethanol, the former is cheaper, more reactive, and the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) are more volatile than those of the fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). However, ethanol is less toxic and it can be considered more renewable because it can be easily produced from renewable sources by fermentation of agricultural feedstocks. In contrast, methanol is mainly produced from nonrenewable fossil sources, such as natural gas. Methanol also inhibits Upases. Regarding their characteristics as fuels, FAME and FAEE show very sUght differences (Demirbas, 2008). 

Methyl and ethyl esters of fatty acids have been used in consumer products for a long time and are generally recognized as safe in specific applications (23, 24). However, the new use of biodiesel as a fuel has led to tests to determine its potential toxicity in new applications. 

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