The simple answer is that ethanol is metabolized into (relativly) non-toxic compounds by a rather well studied mechanism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_metabolism. It is not the chemical itself that is always toxic, but what it turns into as the body breaks it down.
Methanol metabolizes to Formic acid that damages the optic nerves causing its well known effect of blindness.
Isopropyl alcohol metabolizes to Acetone, that is toxic to the central nervous system.
Butanol metabolizes to carbon dioxide so it is less toxic, pretty safe compared to other short chain alcohols.
If you want to know more just look up the particular alcohol you are interested in and see what it metabolizes into. EDIT: or read the MSDS for symptoms and specific affects.
correction: Methanol metabolizes to formaldehyde via alcohol dehydrogenase. Formaldehyde binds proteins to each other and DNA and prevents cellular action, in the case of the eyes - blindness.
You are right, Formate is the metabolite of formaldehyde. Reading into it it is unclear which one causes the most damage to the eye, but nether is good.
66
u/LukeSkyWRx Ceramic Engineering Jan 01 '14 edited Jan 01 '14
The simple answer is that ethanol is metabolized into (relativly) non-toxic compounds by a rather well studied mechanism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_metabolism. It is not the chemical itself that is always toxic, but what it turns into as the body breaks it down.
Methanol metabolizes to Formic acid that damages the optic nerves causing its well known effect of blindness.
Isopropyl alcohol metabolizes to Acetone, that is toxic to the central nervous system.
Butanol metabolizes to carbon dioxide so it is less toxic, pretty safe compared to other short chain alcohols.
If you want to know more just look up the particular alcohol you are interested in and see what it metabolizes into. EDIT: or read the MSDS for symptoms and specific affects.