[Methanol poisonings in 2007-08].
BACKGROUND
At the turn of 2007/2008, four Norwegian men died after ingestion of commercially available supposedly denatured ethanol.


METHODS
The four deaths are presented and discussed.


RESULTS
Methanol concentrations, consistent with lethal methanol poisoning, were detected in blood and urine for all four. The imbibed mixture was subsequently shown to contain a 70/30 mixture of methanol/ethanol.


CONCLUSIONS
The events emphasize the importance of investigating methanol findings from deceased to identify the source, and that investigations are instigated promptly to prevent further exposure.
Slørdal
Lars
L
Institutt for laboratoriemedisin, barne- og kvinnesykdommer, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet og Avdeling for klinisk farmakologi, St. Olavs hospital, Olav Kyrres gate 17, 7006 Trondheim, Norway. lars.slordal@ntnu.no
Skogholt
Anita
A
Aarstad
Kjell
K
Ellingsen
Christian Lycke
CL
Brekke
Marianne B
MB
Haugen
Olav A
OA
D017809:Fatal Outcome; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012997:Solvents / Q000506:poisoning*
D012997:Solvents; D000432:Methanol