Analysis of methanol content in fake alcoholic beverages during a methanol mass poisoning outbreak (Bojnourd- Northeast of Iran, ۲۰۱۸)

Background: Consumption of non-commercial alcoholic drinks is the main cause of methanol poisoning in the world. Non-standardized production methods or deliberate spiking of methanol in non-commercial and homemade alcoholic beverages have been reported, globally. The analysis of toxic alcohol contents in illegally produced alcohol beverages is necessary for prevention and early diagnosis of methanol poisoning especially during alcohol mass poisoning episodes. In this study, we analyzed methanol, ethanol and higher alcohols content in seized illegal alcoholic beverages during methanol mass poisoning outbreak in Bojnourd City (northeast of Iran) in ۲۰۱۸. Method: During the methanol mass poisoning outbreak in Bojnourd city (northeast of Iran), happened in one –month period from September ۲۲ to October ۲۲, ۲۰۱۸, samples of all illegal alcoholic beverages either found consumed by poisoned patients who admitted  to the hospitals or seized by the law enforcement were analyzed. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of ethanol, methanol, ۱-propanol, ۲-propanol and acetone were performed using GC-FID method. Results:  In the samples collected from a total of ۱۱۶ seized illegally produced alcohol beverages; methanol was detected in ۳۹.۶% with mean concentration of ۷۷.۶ %v/v and the range from ۱۲ to ۹۷% v/v. Ethanol was detected in ۷۷ (۶۶.۴%) samples with mean concentration of ۳۲.۳%v/v. Only ۸ (۶.۹%) samples had a mixture of ethanol and methanol. ۱-propanol, ۲-propanol and acetone were not detected in any samples. Conclusion: Methanol is the main toxic chemical component in illegal alcoholic beverages with toxic level and could be considered as a cause of mass poisoning during the alcohol mass poisoning in Bojnourd City. This finding could be considered in planning and implementing of public health measures in Iran.

Keywords:

Methanol , Alcoholic Beverages , Poisoning , Epidemiology