Ethanol (ethyl alcohol): Health effects
Description
Symptoms of exposure to ethanol may include irritation to the eyes, skin and nose, drowsiness and headache. Other symptoms may include stupor, nausea, mental excitement or depression, vomiting, flushing and coma. Exposure to high concentrations of ethanol vapours may cause irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, loss of coordination (ataxia), sleepiness, narcosis (stupor or unconsciousness), impaired perception and lack of coordination. It can also cause lowered inhibitions, dizziness, shallow respiration, unconsciousness and death. Ethanol is harmful by ingestion, inhalation or by skin absorption.
Repeated contact can dry the skin resulting in the skin cracking, peeling and itching.
Ethanol can depress the central nervous system, the eyes and upper respiratory tract (nose and throat). Ethanol can cause irritation, headache, fatigue and loss of concentration.
Consumption of ethanol during pregnancy may affect the unborn child, resulting in spontaneous abortion, developmental problems, or birth defects. This is known as 'foetal alcohol syndrome'. Chronic ingestion of ethanol may cause liver cirrhosis, affect the nervous system and affect the glands in humans.
Ethanol may cause mutations (genetic changes).
Ethanol is rapidly oxidised by the body to carbon dioxide and water, with no cumulative effect. Concentrations below 1000 parts per million (ppm) usually produce no signs of intoxication.
Entering the body
Ethanol can enter the body by ingestion, inhaling fumes or by absorption through the skin.
Exposure
Exposure to ethanol can be from the intake of food or beverages containing alcohol or from a wide range of consumer products containing ethanol, or in from a wide range of industries that use or produce ethanol.
Ethanol is present in low levels in the environment, it is a natural product that results from the fermentation of plants.
Health guidelines
Workplace exposure:
Currently, the eight-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit is 1880 milligrams of ethanol per cubic metre of air. No short term exposure limit (STEL) has been established for ethanol.
Australian drinking water guidelines:
No drinking water guidelines have been established for ethanol.
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