Methanol

Methanol (methyl alcohol) has multiple uses, but human poisoning usually occurs as a result of ingesting adulterated wines or liquors. Methanol is converted by alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases to formaldehyde and formic acid, respectively; the latter is thought to be responsible for methanol toxicity, which includes metabolic acidosis, visual system toxicity with possible blindness, and other neurological disturbances. Treatment of poisoning consists of inhibiting or delaying methanol metabolism by the use of fomepizole or ethanol. Species with low susceptibility to methanol neurotoxicity (e.g., rodents) can effectively convert formic acid to carbon dioxide.