web DeskForensic science confirms brain bleeding caused by toxic methanol mixed in illegal liquor; lab results awaited in 30 days; indicates if ingested in amounts exceeding 150 milligrams per liter, death can occur.
Pol. Col. Watee Atsawutmangkur, Commander of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, revealed about the autopsy case of a person who died from methanol poisoning from drinking bootleg liquor that the methyl alcohol case involved the following police stations: Bang Chan Police Station and Min Buri Police Station. Min Buri Police Station reported the incident to go for an examination on August 26, 67 at 5:00 p.m. to collect evidence for examination, which included various herbs in a jar in the kitchen. On the lower floor behind, various herbs were found, including safflower, fingerroot, bael fruit, licorice, etc., which were used to prepare herbal liquor. They have been handed over to the investigator and are in the process of being sent back to the Institute of Forensic Science for examination. At Ba
ng Chan Police Station, the police, together with the Excise Department, searched for approximately 10 liters of liquid in a white gallon and an empty 200-liter plastic drum, which is assumed to have been used to prepare liquor. All evidence has been sent to the Institute of Forensic Science. It is currently in the laboratory process to separate the liquid to determine whether it is methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. It is still not clear whether it is methyl alcohol or not. The part that was sent to the forensic department will be used for re-confirmation. Whether it is consistent with the autopsy or not depends on the results from the laboratory. If the results are known, they will be reported back to Bang Chan Police Station. It is expected that the results will be known within 3 days.
Pol. Col. Napapat Natthasuman, head of the Forensic Science Division, Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, said the Institute of Forensic Medicine received three bodies from Min Buri Police Station (2 cas
es) and Bang Chan Police Station (1 case), received on August 24-26, 2014, one per day. They were males aged 30-47. In the initial examination, if it was methanol poisoning, laboratory tests would be required to confirm the poisoning. However, since all three had received treatment before, it would be difficult to examine and may not be detected. The results of the blood test results from the first day of treatment would have to be reviewed. In addition, if methanol is ingested in a quantity of 20 milligrams per liter, symptoms would start with stomach pain. If a large quantity is ingested, symptoms would include blurred vision and neurological symptoms. If a large quantity is ingested, symptoms would include stomach irritation, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Ingesting a large quantity of methanol would specifically affect the eyes, causing blurred vision. If a high level is ingested, it would cause coma and death. If the level is found to exceed 150-200 milligrams per liter,
In the case of brain bleedin
g, does it indicate a side effect from methanol intake? Pol. Col. Napapat said that they are investigating whether the brain bleeding was a direct result of exposure to this type of toxic substance. An autopsy found that 1 out of 3 cases was likely caused by methanol because methanol causes acid in the blood. However, other causes must be considered because some of the bodies did not have this. All 3 cases had a history of drinking alcohol, but it cannot be confirmed whether they actually drank alcohol or not because they have to wait for the results from the laboratory, which takes about 30 days. In the past, there was experience in examining bodies that were poisoned by methanol, but there were no specific symptoms unless the blood test showed dangerous levels.
Source: Thai News Agency
