- [It is certain that high levels of aspartame use, above
2 liters daily for months and years, must lead to chronic formaldehyde-formic
acid toxicity, since 11% of aspartame (1,120 mg in 2L diet soda, 5.6 12-oz
cans) is 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol), immediately released into the
body after drinking (unlike the large levels of methanol locked up in molecules
inside many fruits), then quickly transformed into formaldehyde, which
in turn becomes formic acid, both of which in time are partially eliminated
as carbon dioxide and water.
-
- Trocho C, Alemany M, et al in June 26 1998 Life Sciences
(Life Sci 1998 Jun 26; 63(5): 337-49) found the high tissue levels of formaldehyde
from the methanol component of aspartame given to rats by oral dose to
be in liver, kidney, brain, retina:
-
- "Label present in liver, plasma and kidney was in
the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered per g or mL, changing
little with time. Other organs (brown and white adipose tissues, muscle,
brain, cornea and retina) contained levels of label in the range of 1/12
to 1/10 th of that of liver. In all, the rat retained, 6 hours after administration
about 5% of the label, half of it in the liver." Rich Murray]
-
- Subject: [OEM] ProMED: MeOH in vodka, UK
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 06:58:43 -0400
From: Gary Greenberg
- <Gary.Greenberg@DUKE.EDU>
To: Occ-Env-Med-L@MC.DUKE.EDU
-
- METHANOL CONTAMINATION, VODKA - UK: ALERT
-
- A ProMED-mail post http://www.promedmail.org ProMED-mail,
a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases www.isid.org
-
- Date: 29 Jun 2003 Source: Evening Star 29 Jun 2003 22:00
[edited] http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/Content/news/story.asp?datetime=29+Jun+
- 2003+22%3A00&tbrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=News&category=News&brand=
- ESTOnline&itemid=IPED27+Jun+2003+15%3A00%3A38%3A537
-
- Hunt launched for toxic vodka
-
- Vodka laced with poisonous methanol may be on sale in
shops in Suffolk. Trading Standards officers are on the hunt for bottles
branded S Petersbourg and St. Petersburg; any found will be withdrawn from
sale.
-
- Bottles have already been found in the Waltham Forest
area of East London containing dangerously high levels of methanol, which
can lead to abdominal pain, breathing problems, and even coma if swallowed
[ingested].
-
- The bottles have the following markings:
-
- S Petersbourg Vodka - A white front label with: S Petersbourg
in black lettering and Vodka in red lettering 70cl,e, 37.5 percent Vol.
-
- Gold crown with cross swords and 2 red lions at the top,
and a gold image of buildings at the bottom.
-
- A white back label with: S Petersbourg in black lettering
and Vodka in red
-
- 'Produced and bottled by cod.ACCISA GE A0002A - NE (GE)'
'70cl,e, 37.5 percent and the bar code 8003151000006.'
-
- The bottles found so far also bear the lot code L601-02.
-
- St. Petersburg Vodka bottles have been found in 1-litre
bottles and have identical labelling except for being 1LTR volume instead
of 70cl, and have a different spelling on the label.
-
- Anyone who thinks they may have bought a bottle matching
either of these descriptions should contact the Trading Standards Advice
Line on 01473 584358.
-
- The symptoms can be delayed for several hours, so anyone
who thinks they have drunk any of this contaminated vodka is advised to
see their doctor as a priority. - -- ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
-
- [Methanol (wood alcohol) is produced from the destructive
distillation of wood. Epidemics of methanol toxicity have resulted from
the consumption of methanol-contaminated whiskey. The formation of 2 toxic
metabolites, formaldehyde and formic acid, causes methanol poisoning. The
elimination rate depends upon the folate pool, which in primates is generally
small, and consequently primates (including humans) are more sensitive
to methanol toxicity than other animals.
-
- Methanol is widely available in formulations including
antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, Sterno canned heat, shellacs, various
paints, paint removers, varnishes, duplicating fluids, and gasoline additives.
-
- Fatalities have been reported after ingestion of 15 ml
or 3 teaspoons of a 40 percent solution, although 30 ml is generally considered
a minimal lethal dose. With aggressive medical care it is possible to survive
the ingestion of 500-600 ml. However, consumption of as little as 10 ml
may cause blindness, with the amount varying with the individual.
-
- Methanol is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract,
and peak levels occur generally within 30-90 minutes. It is distributed
into tissues, so concentrations in the vitreous humor and optic nerve are
high. The highest concentrations are found in the kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal
tract, with smaller concentrations in the brain, muscle, and adipose tissues.
Methanol is oxidized 10 times more slowly than ethanol. Consequently there
is a longer elimination half-life.
-
- Onset of symptoms varies between 40 minutes and 72 hours
post-ingestion. Co-ingestion with alcohol will delay the appearance of
symptoms, but the absence of symptoms does not exclude serious toxicity.
The usual latent period is 12-24 hours.
-
- Clinical signs may include headache, vertigo, lethargy,
and confusion, which are common in mild-to-moderate ethanol intoxications.
Coma and convulsions appear in severe cases, probably as a result of cerebral
edema. Methanol produces little to no euphoria, unlike ethanol.
-
- Blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, and photophobia
(sensitivity to light) are common complaints. Constricted visual fields,
fixed and dilated pupils, retinal edema, and hyperemia of the optic disk
are common clinical findings. Prompt initial therapy is necessary to reverse
symptoms, though visual defects have persisted in up to 25 percent of severe
cases. Methanol is a mucosal irritant and may produce nausea, vomiting,
and abdominal pain, not unlike large doses of ethanol.
-
- Early in the clinical course, gut decontamination with
ipecac or lavage may be indicated. However, if the methanol is mixed with
ethanol, these patients may not realize something is out of the ordinary
until it is too late for this type of treatment to be helpful.
-
- Intravenous administration of ethanol in a 10 percent
dextrose solution may be helpful. As ethanol prolongs the elimination half-life
of methanol, the treatment may take several days and the patient should
be hospitalized. Dialysis may be necessary to prevent kidney failure as
well. - Mod.TG]
-
- [OEM-L Mod: Better than ethanol, Fomepizole (4-methylpyrazole)
inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase and does not trigger delerium, fetal risks,
liver injury gastropathy and frequent vomiting. Also, Folinic acid (leucovorin)
is recommended for restoration of 1-carbon metabolism, esp for MeOH exposure.
-G] -- Gary N. Greenberg, MD MPH Sysop / Moderator Occ-Env-Med-L MailList
gary.greenberg@duke.edu Duke Occupat, Environ, Int & Fam Medicine
OEM-L Maillist Website: http://occhealthnews.net
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