A Methanol Poisoning Outbreak in Kentucky

Abstract

A change in the brand of shellac thinner used to make an alcoholic beverage resulted in six deaths from methanol poisoning. In screening all potentially poisoned persons available with serum methanol, ethanol, pH, and electrolyte determinations, many asymptomatic methanol poisonings were discovered. A correlation was established between severity of illness and level of ethanol, further suggesting a protective effect. Among different types of treatment used with the 12 hospitalized cases peritoneal dialysis was shown to be effective, with a clearance rate five to ten times that obtained with forced fluid diuresis.