POISONING INCIDENTS ALERT TO ALL PERSONNEL

File: 070396_jun_decls34_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 2

Subject: POISONING INCIDENTS ALERT TO ALL PERSONNEL                      

Unit: 82D AB      

Parent  Organization: XVIII CORPS 

Box ID: BX001506

Folder Seq #:        919

Document Number:        123


                       02 02 2*OZ DEC 90 PP         UUUU
                       3. METHANOL IS A HIGHLY TOXIC CHEMICAL THAT CAUSES BLINDNESS, BRAIN DAMAGE,

                       AND DEATH AMONG THOSE WHO F(IOLISHLY SUBSTITUTE IT FOR BEER, WINE, LIQUOR,

                       AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC DRIWS.

                       4. METHANOL (METHYL OR WOOD ALCOHOL) IS A WIDELY USED SOLVENT IN PAINTS,

                       VARNISHES, AND PAINT REMOVERS. IT IS USED ALONE AS AN ANTIFREEZE FLUID

                       AND WITH ETHANOL AND SOAP AS A SOLID CANNED FUEL. POISONINGS ARE USUALLY

                       DUE TO ACCIDENTAL INGESTION BY ALCOHOLICS. IN SOME AREAS, METHANOL MAY BE

                       A CONTAMINANT IN "MOONSHINE." METHANOL HAS LEGITIMATE USES AS A SOLVENT,

                       CLEANING AGENT. OR DRYING AGENT IN MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MOTOR

                       POOLS, WHERE IT IS COMMONLY STOCKED. ONE NSN IS 6810-00-597-3608. IT MAY

                       COME IN GALLON-SIZE CONTAINERS OR SMALLER.

                       5. METHANOL CAN BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE BLINDNESS, BRAIN DAMAGE, OR DEATH

                       AMONS THOSE WHO DRINK IT. IT IS HIGHLY POISONOUS. A FEW OUNCES CAN KILL

                       AN ADULT.

                       6. AS LITTLE AS 2 TEASPOONSFUL (10 ML) OR METHANOL IS CONSIDERED TOXIC;

                       FATAL RESULTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH DOSAGES BETWEEN 50 AND 200 ML (2 AND 8

                       OUNCES$. A BLOOD LEVEL GREATER THAN 800 MB/L IS DANGEROUS TO LIFE.

                       METABOLITES OF METHYL ALCOHOL CAN DAMAGE THE OPTIC NERVE, RESULTING  IN

                       EITHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT BLINDNESS.

                       7. ALL PERSONNEL WORKING IN UNIT SECTIONS WHERE METHANOL IS STORED AND USED

                       WILL BE THOROUGHLY BRIEFED ON THE DANGERS OF THIS CHEMICAL. ALTHOUGH IT IS

                       TOO LATE TO UNDO THE TRAGIC RESULTS,OF THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE, IT IS

SSENTIAL THAT ALL PERSONNEL BE MADE AWARE OF.THE HIGHLY POISONOUS NATURE OF

                       THIS COMMON CHEMICAL. METHANOL KILLS.

                       S. POC IS COL O'DONNELL, 44TH MEDICAL BRIGADE, TAC 9-7671-260.

Document 2 f:/Week-22/BX001506/DUTY LOG MSG DEC 90/poisoning incidents alert to all personnel:07019618404643
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-22
Box ID = BX001506
Unit = 82D AB
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = DUTY LOG MSG DEC 90
Folder Seq # = 919
Subject = POISONING INCIDENTS ALERT TO ALL PERSONNEL
Document Seq # = 43
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 01-JUL-1996