Formaldehyde alcohol ingestion

A 55-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man ingested, with suicidal intent, an unknown amount of what was reported to have been formalin (Koppel et al. 1990). The female patient was found in a coma and admitted to the hospital with shock (systolic blood pressure 50 mm Hg), respiratory insufficiency, and metabolic acidosis. The male patient, who had a history of alcohol abuse, was also hospitalized with shock (systolic blood pressure 60 mm Hg), respiratory insufficiency, and metabolic acidosis. Both patients underwent hemodialysis and hemofiltration treatment. Analysis of the formaldehyde samples ingested by both patients showed no evidence that these products contained methanol, although it was expected to have been detected. A chemical-toxicological screening indicated that no drugs other than fonnaldehyde had been ingested neither methanol or ethanol were detected in blood samples. Three... 

The kinetic parameters for the oxidation of a series of alcohols by ALD are shown in Table 4.1 (74). Methanol and ethylene glycol are toxic because of their oxidation products (formaldehyde and formic acid for methanol and a series of intermediates leading to oxalic acid for ethylene glycol), and the fact that their affinity for ALD is lower than that for ethanol can be used for the treatment of ingestion of these agents. Treatment of such patients with ethanol inhibits the oxidation of methanol and ethylene glycol (competitive inhibition) and shifts more of the clearance to renal clearance thus decreasing toxicity. ALD is also inhibited by 4-methylpyrazole. 

Methanol or methyl alcohol can become an alcoholic s main source of alcohol because it is cheaper. Methanol is frequently used as an additive for industrial ethanol to circumvent taxes. Methanol may be purposely adulterated to make it less palatable, but it is used nevertheless Methanol ingestion can be fatal due to its CNS depressant effects. In addition it is toxic because it is a substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase forming formic acid and formaldehyde which... 

Methyl alcohol is poisonous and is commonly used to denature ethyl alcohol. Methanol poisoning results from ingestion, inhalation of methanol vapors, or absorption through the skin. Methanol is transformed in the body to formaldehyde (H2CO) by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. The formaldehyde is then metabolized to formic acid (HCOOH)... 

TA medical therapy based on competition at the active site is used to treat patients who have ingested methanol, a solvent found in gas-line antifreeze. The liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase converts methanol to formaldehyde, which is damaging to many tissues. Blindness is a common result of methanol ingestion, because... 

Ingestion of methanol, particularly during the prohibition era, resulted in significant illness and mortality. Where epidemics of methanol poisoning have been reported, one-third of the exposed population recovered with no ill effects, one-third have severe visual loss or blindness, and one-third have died. Methanol itself is not responsible for the toxic effects but is rapidly metabolized in humans by alcohol dehydrogenase to formaldehyde, which is subsequently metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenase to form... 

N-1 ormy [piperidine (4.15) is an uncompetitive inhibitor of liver alcohol dehydrogenase (Figure 4.18).14 Liver alcohol dehydrogenase is often associated with the oxidation of ethanol in the bloodstream, but it also oxidizes methanol to formaldehyde, which is a toxic metabolite. Safe, effective inhibitors of liver alcohol dehydrogenase represent a potential treatment for individuals who have ingested methanol. 

DOT CLASSIFICATION 4.1 Label None SAFETY PROFILE Moderately toxic by ingestion, A severe eye and skin irritant. Mutation data reported. Flammable when exposed to heat or flame can react with oxidizing materials. To fight fire, use alcohol foam, CO2, dry chemical. Incompatible with liquid oxygen. Dangerous when heated to decomposition it emits toxic formaldehyde gas. See also FORMALDEHYDE. 

Methyl alcohol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, but is very slowly oxidized by the tissues. Approximately 30 percent of the absorbed alcohol remains unoxidized in the tissues 48 hours after ingestion. Roughly 40 percent of the compound is oxidized to formaldehyde and formic acid and a considerable quantity escapes in the exhaled air unchanged. Much of the formic acid formed is excreted in the urine as its sodium and ammonium salts. In addition to the depressant action of methyl alcohol upon the central nervous system, characteristic of the aliphatic alcohols, the compound elicits a definite toxic specificity for the optic nerve. 

Side note Methanol Poisoning. An interesting and imponant example competitive substrate inhibition is the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (AC in the presence of ethanol and methanol. If a person ingests methanol, Al will convert it to formaldehyde and then formate, which causes blindne Consequently, the treatment involves intravenously injecting ethanol (wh is metabolized at a slower rate than methanol at a controlled rate to tie ADH to slow the metabolism of methanol-to-formaldehyde-to-formate so l the kidneys have time to filter out the methanol which is then excreted in urine. With this treatment, blindness is avoided. For more on the met nol/ethanol competitive inhibition, see Problem P7 2Sc. 

P7-2Sf (Open-ended problem) You may have to look up/guess/vary some of the coo-s(ants. if methanol is ingested, it can be metabolized to formaldehyde, which can cause blindness if the formaldehyde reaches a conceniralion of 0,16 tt/dm of fluid in the body. A concentration of 0.75 g/dm will be lethal. After ail the methanol ha,s been removed from the stomach, the primary [neaimeni is to inject ethanol inirasenously to tie up (competitive inhibition) the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH so that methanol is not converted lo formaldehyde and is eliminated from the body through the kidney and bladder (iy). We will assume as a lirsi approximation that the body is a well-mixed C.5TR of 40 dm [total body fluid i. In Section 7.5, we applied a more rigorous model-... 

Methanol (naethyl alcohol), CH3OH, is a colorless and odorless liquid that is used as a solvent and as the starting material for the synthesis of methanal (formaldehyde). Methanol is often called wood alcohol because it can be made by heating wood in the absence of air. Methanol is toxic and can cause blindness and perhaps death if ingested. Methanol may also be used as fuel, especially for "formula" racing cars. 

The metabolite produced from a drug or some other exogenous substance is often pharmacologically active. Such substances are referred to as active metabolites. In some cases, active metabolites are responsible for toxic effects which exceed that of the parent substance. Methanol, ethylene glycol, and DDE are examples of active toxic metabolites. Methanol (wood alcohol) can be ingested accidentally or intentionally. Methanol is metabolized similarly to ethanol, via a two-step oxidation to an aldehyde (formaldehyde) that is converted to an add (formic add). The acid causes toxic effects such as acidosis and Impaired cell respiration, while the penetration of methanol into the vitreous humor can lead to blurred vision emd blindness. 

Although methanol itself is not particularly harmful, accidental or intentional ingestion of methanol can cause headache, nausea, blindness, seizures, and even death. In the liver, methanol is metabolized by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to yield formaldehyde ... 

In addition to oxidizing ethanol to acetaldehyde, alcohol dehydrogenase can oxidize methanol to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is damaging to many tissues and since eye tissue is particularly sensitive, methanol ingestion can cause blindness. 

Methanol [methyl alcohol), the simplest alcohol, is found in many solvents and paint removers. If ingested, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde, which can cause headaches, blindness, and death. Methanol is used to make plastics, medicines, and fuels. In car racing, it is used as a fuel because it is less flammable and has a higher octane rating than does gasoline. 

Methanol and Formate. - Methanol intoxication can result from both accidental and deliberate ingestion. The alcohol undergoes ADH-catalysed oxidation to formaldehyde, which is then rapidly metabolised to formic add, resulting in metabolic acidosis. 

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