Biomedical Engineering Reference
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body. Methanol in the blood is below 10mg/l, a safe level, following
exposure at 200 ppm methanol in the air.
3.4 HISTORY OF HUMAN TOXICITY
3.4.1 Occupational
In 1856, a mention was made in the literature that methanol affected the
eyes in cabinet marker, hatters, and metal workers. This appears to be
the first reference in toxicity of methanol used in an occupational setting
(MacFarland, 1855-1856).
In addition to methanol ingestion poisoning, workers who coated the
inside of beer vats and tanks reported methanol intoxication. Methanol
was used as a solvent, and death and blindness were reported. Both
inhalation and dermal exposure were possible source of intoxication
(McCord, 1931). In one case, a worker, who was varnishing a vat for 2
days, became intoxicated because of inhalation and dermal contact with
methanol. On day 3, he reported headache, unsteady gait, nausea,
vomiting, and inebriation. Changes in vision were still being observed
6-7 months later (Tyson, 1912).
In 1906, numerous deaths among methanol users in industry resulted
in the passage of legislation, which allows tax-free ethanol for industry
uses as a replacement for methanol (McCord, 1931).
Methanol occupational exposure was rare until it started to be used as
a solvent about 100 years ago. Occupational exposure in the early 1900s
was to dermal and inhalation of the solvent “methanol” and blindness
and deaths were reported in workers. By the 1920s increased awareness
to the effects of high-level dermal and inhalation exposure to methanol
were well known. Methanol toxicity to dermal and inhalation occupa-
tion exposure is now a minor concern (Delbrick et al., 1982).
3.4.2
Ingestion
In about 1896, commercial preparation of methanol that was deodorized
and purified were made. It was sold as Columbia sprits, eagle sprits, lion
d' Or and it was added to products such as witch hazel, Jamaica ginger,
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