Sodium methanolate

Additional toxicological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional toxicological information

Type of information:

other: review

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

The toxicity of methanol.

Author:

Tephly, T.R.

Year:

1991

Bibliographic source:

Life Sci 48: 1031-1041

Materials and methods

Type of study / information:

Informations on the role of formate reactions in the regulation of methanol toxicity in humans.

Principles of method if other than guideline:

This review based on a range of publication with respect to the role of formate reactions in the regulation of methanol toxicity in humans.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methanol

EC Number:

200-659-6

EC Name:

Methanol

Cas Number:

67-56-1

Molecular formula:

CH4O

IUPAC Name:

Methyl alcohol

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Methanol toxicity in humans and monkeys is characterised by a latent period of many hours followed by a metabolic acidosis and ocular toxicity. This is not observed in the most lower animals. The metabolic acidosis and blindness is apparently due to formic acid accumulation in humans and monkeys, a feature not seen in lower animals. The difference of methanol toxicity in primates and rodents is suspected to derive from formate accumulation due to lower formate metabolism. In fact humans and monkeys possess low hepatic tetrahydrofolate levels and low rates of formate oxidation. Formate itself produces blindness in monkeys, the major toxic effect of methanol.