[Bioconversion] Re: County wide methanol project -- was: Re: [Gasification] Re: Gasification Digest, Vol 23, Issue 28

[Harmon Seaver]

   Here's another good one -- just breathing the fumes is hazardous:

"In one study, symptoms of blurred vision, headaches, dizziness,
nausea and skin problems were reported in teachers aides exposed to
duplicating fluid containing 99% methanol (Frederick et al., 1984).
Individual aides worked as little as 1 hr/day for 1 day a week to 8
hrs/day for 5 days/wk. The workers' total exposure duration was not
mentioned. A dose-response  relationship was observed between the
self-reported amount of time spent at the duplicator and the incidence
of symptoms. The concentrations of methanol in the breathing zones
near the machines in 12 schools ranged from 485 to 4096 mg/m3 (365 to
3080 ppm) for a
15 minute sample "

http://www.oehha.org/air/chronic_rels/pdf/67561.pdf

   I think if methanol ever becomes widely used as fuel, there will be
major health problems related to it. One report talks about methanol
toxicity mimicking MS -- that quite a few cases originally diagnosed
as MS were later found to be methanol toxicity.

On 6/27/06, Harmon Seaver <hseaver at gmail.com> wrote:
> Just do a google on methanol toxicity. For instance:
>
> "Lethal doses are thought to range from 30-240 mL; the minimum lethal
> dose is believed to be 1 g/kg body weight."
>
> http://www.emedicine.com/NEURO/topic217.htm
>
>    Methanol is very readily absorbed thru the skin, sub-lethal doses
> cause damage to the nervous system and eyes.
>
>
>
> On 6/26/06, Arnt Karlsen <arnt at c2i.net> wrote:
> > On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 19:48:22 -0500, Harmon wrote in message
> > <22acb24d0606261748i7c237c34v507d837d9d18cd5a at mail.gmail.com>:
> >
> > >    This conversation really belongs on the bioconversion list rather
> > > than gasification.
> >
> > ..aye.
> >
> > > But have you given any thought to just how toxic methanol is? Spill it
> > > on your hand while refueling and you probably won't survive the
> > > experience.
> >
> > ..maybe I'm on long term bonus time, but some aero modellers have messed
> > around with methanol and castor oil for decades.  We do however worry
> > about epoxy glues and paints, there is an individual and appearantly
> > accumulating tolerance limit, some oldtimers can mess around for decades
> > with no visible effects while a few unfortunate souls lose their health
> > building their first model.
> >
> > --
> > ..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt... ;o)
> > ...with a number of polar bear hunters in his ancestry...
> >   Scenarios always come in sets of three:
> >   best case, worst case, and just in case.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Gasification at listserv.repp.org
> > http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification
> > http://www.repp.org/discussiongroups/resources/gasification
> >
>
>
> --
> Harmon Seaver
>


-- 
Harmon Seaver