Toxicity of Synthetic Methanol.

Abstract

The importance of synthetic methanol as an industrial solvent is rapidly increasing. Because of the rather widespread belief among the laity that the synthetic product is less toxic than natural methanol this investigation was undertaken. Although the purest synthetic∗ and the purest natural † methyl alcohol were used it was observed that the former had very much less odor than the latter. Possibly this is the basis for the popular belief that the synthetic product is the less toxic.

Male white mice between 18 and 20 gm. in weight were selected. Two groups of 30 mice in each experiment were injected intraperitoneally with equal volumes of the synthetic or the natural methyl alcohol diluted 50% by volume with water. Three experiments were performed in which 0.4 cc, 0.5 cc, and 0.6 cc. of solution per 25 gm. of mouse were injected. An arbitrary time interval of 72 hours subsequent to the injection was taken as the period of survival. Post mortem examination was performed routinely and in no instance could death be attributed to causes other than methyl alcohol. The table indicates the results.

Loss of pupillary reaction to light and failure to respond to visual stimuli ensued in rabbits when either synthetic (3 animals) or natural (3 animals) methanol was administered by stomach tube in a dose of 6 cc. per kilogram of body-weight every 24 hours for 3 days. Each dose is somewhat higher than the single narcotic dose given by Sollmann and Hanzlik, 1 but no narcosis was produced. However, the series was small, consisting of 3 animals in each group. Nevertheless, it seems justifiable to conclude that there is no significant difference in the two products as regards their effects presumably on the optic nerve in the rabbit.