Methanol: Health effects
Description
Exposure to methanol may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, mouth and throat. It can lead to liver damage, cause headaches, cardiac depression, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, optic nerve damage, dizziness and a feeling of intoxication. Methanol exposure may lead to severe abdominal, leg and back pain.
Methanol is harmful by ingestion, inhalation or through skin absorption.
Repeated contact can dry the skin, resulting in the skin cracking, peeling and itching.
Methanol can cause temporary or permanent blindness when inhaled, ingested or passed through the skin. Exposure to high concentrations can cause coma or death.
Entering the body
Methanol can enter the body by ingestion, inhaling fumes or by absorption through the skin. Methanol will break down in the body and be removed through expired air or urine.
Exposure
Exposure to methanol can also come from a wide range of consumer products containing methanol, a wide range of industries that use or produce methanol or in the environment following releases to air, water, land or ground water.
Methanol 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 262 milligrams of methanol per cubic metre of air. A 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 328 milligrams of methanol per cubic metre of air has been established.
Australian drinking water guidelines:
No drinking water guidelines have been established for methanol.
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