Lethal dosage of cotton candy unveiled by toxicologist following Sochi tragedy
In the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, a tragic incident involving illegally produced chacha, a traditional Georgian brandy, highlighted the dangers of methanol in homemade alcohol. At least ten lives were lost, underscoring the importance of understanding the risks associated with consuming such beverages.
Dr. Alexei Vodorozov, a high-category therapist and toxicologist, explained to NEWS.ru the danger of methanol in homemade alcohol. Methanol, a harmful substance, is often found in such drinks, and its presence can lead to severe neurotoxin exposure, as demonstrated by the Sochi tragedy.
Methanol is metabolized in the human body primarily into formaldehyde and then further into formic acid. These are the specific breakdown products responsible for methanol poisoning and its harmful health effects. Formic acid, in particular, is highly toxic and causes metabolic acidosis, damage to the optic nerve leading to blindness, and can be fatal in sufficient quantities.
The metabolic pathway begins with methanol being oxidized by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is then rapidly converted by aldehyde dehydrogenase to formic acid (formate). Accumulation of formic acid leads to metabolic acidosis, visual disturbances, central nervous system depression, and potential death if untreated.
Treatment often involves administration of ethanol or fomepizole because they competitively inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase, preventing the formation of toxic formaldehyde and formic acid from methanol.
In summary, formaldehyde and formic acid, the breakdown products of methanol, are strong neurotoxins. Homemade alcoholic beverages lack quality control and reliable information about their composition, making them potentially dangerous.
The Sochi chacha tragedy serves as a further reminder of the dangers of illegal alcohol. It highlights the lack of quality control and reliable information about the composition of homemade alcoholic beverages, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and regulation.
- Dr. Vodorozov emphasized that the tragedy in Sochi underscores the need to understand the risks associated with consuming beverages contaminated with methanol, a substance found in homemade alcohol.
- Methanol, when consumed, is metabolized in the human body into formaldehyde and then further into formic acid, two highly toxic substances responsible for methanol poisoning and its harmful effects.
- Accumulation of formic acid in the body leads to metabolic acidosis, visual disturbances, central nervous system depression, and potential death if untreated.
- Treatment for methanol poisoning often involves administering ethanol or fomepizole to competitively inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase, thus preventing the formation of toxic formaldehyde and formic acid from methanol.
- The lack of quality control and reliable information about the composition of homemade alcoholic beverages makes them potentially dangerous and serves as a reminder of the risks associated with illegal alcohol consumption.
- The need for increased awareness and regulation of such beverages becomes apparent when incidents like the Sochi chacha tragedy occur, underscoring the importance of health and wellness education pertaining to alcohol consumption and its associated risks.
