What is methanol poisoning? Australian teens fight for lives in ...

Two Australian teenage girls are fighting for their lives in a Thai hospital after allegedly being poisoned with methanol while in neighbouring Laos.

Melbourne’s Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, were on a “dream getaway” travelling through Asia when the incident occurred.

The pair were staying at a hostel in the town of Vang Vieng when they became seriously ill last week. Their families have flown to Thailand to be by the teenagers' bedside.

“This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the anguish we are going through,” Jones’s parents told the Herald Sun.

“We hope the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible.”

In 2022, a 38-year-old British woman, Kirsty McKie, died in Bali — two days after consuming a beverage containing methanol. She believed this to be alcoholic.

But what is methanol poisoning and what are the symptoms?

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a highly toxic, colourless, and volatile liquid. It is the simplest alcohol in the chemical group, with the formula CH₃OH. Methanol is commonly used as:

Like ethanol, it is a form of alcohol that is odourless and flammable. While it may smell like ethanol — which is what we consume in alcoholic beverages — the two are not the same. Unlike ethanol, it is not safe for human consumption.

How is methanol toxic?

Professor David Ranson, a professor of forensic medicine at Monash University, told Australia’s ABC News that methanol is a “very, very nasty compound”.

He added: “These compounds actually attack organs of the body and actually kill cells.”

He said when methanol enters the human body, our enzymes turn it into formaldehyde and formic acid, causing toxicity.

How can someone be poisoned with methanol?

Typically, people experience methanol poisoning when the liquid is ingested in drinks.

Often it is illegally added to alcoholic beverages, whereas other times it can be used in drinks instead of ethanol because it is cheaper.

Cases of methanol poisoning have been recorded in several Southeast Asian tourist hotpots including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Bali.

What are the symptoms of methanol poisoning?

Vomiting, abdominal pain and nausea are all common symptoms of methanol poisoning. Others include a loss of coordination and a decreased sense of vision.

Someone who has been exposed to methanol can enter a state of severe metabolic acidosis — meaning too much acid has built up in the body. This can lead to them falling unconscious and even entering a coma.

Can methanol poisoning be fatal?

Yes, methanol poisoning can be fatal if not treated properly. The UK government says, if ingested, four to 10 millilitres of methanol can cause permanent damage (including permanent vision loss) to adults.

The minimal lethal dose is considered to be in the range of 300 to 1,000mg/kg.

How can methanol poisoning be prevented?

Smartraveller, the Australian government’s travel advice service, said tourists should be “alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails”.

It said travellers should avoid homemade drinks and drink only at reputable venues.