Prototype is able to detect small concentrations of the toxic substance in alcoholic drinks or on someone’s breath
Australian researchers have developed a prototype methanol “breathalyser” capable of detecting small concentrations of the toxic substance in alcoholic drinks or on someone’s breath.
Methanol poisoning is a problem that affects thousands of people every year, killing 20-40% of victims, according to Doctors Without Borders. In November, Australian backpackers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, along with British lawyer Simone White, were among six tourists to die in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos.
Methanol, an industrial alcohol, looks and smells similar to the regular alcohol found in beer, wine and spirits. But when found in alcoholic drinks – usually as a result of bootleg alcohol production – methanol can be deadly. Consuming even small amounts can lead to blindness, convulsions and death.
Yet current methods for detecting the presence of methanol remain complex and expensive, and unsuitable for travellers.
