More than 210 people died from alcohol poisoning and its surrogates in the Mogilev region in a year

February 2, Mogilev. In the Mogilev region in 2021, more than 210 deaths from methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol poisoning were detected. Irina Rachkovskaya, Chief Specialist for Media Relations of the Department of the State Forensic Examination Committee for the Mogilev Region, told BelTA about this.

"In 2021, state medical forensic experts of the Department of the State Forensic Examination Committee for the Mogilev Region established more than 10 deaths in which the cause of death was acute methanol poisoning, almost 200 cases were fatal ethanol poisoning, and several more cases were ethylene glycol. Almost all victims of alcohol and his surrogates are men of working age," she said.

So, at the end of last year in the Kostyukovichi district, a 49-year-old local resident was taken to the district hospital with a diagnosis of chemical poisoning, who told the doctors that he had used Anti-Ice technical liquid for glass treatment. Despite medical attention, he died a few hours later.

"According to the results of the research, state medical forensic experts concluded that the man's death was caused by acute methanol poisoning. Methanol was found in the body of the deceased at a toxic concentration of more than 700 μg / ml," Irina Rachkovskaya emphasized.

Forensic experts of the State Forensic Examination Committee remind about the risks of drinking alcohol surrogates. Anti-icing, windshield washer and other technical fluids sometimes contain methyl and isopropyl alcohols that are cheaper than ethanol. Alcohol-containing liquid can be poisoned not only by ingestion, but also by inhalation of vapors with a high concentration in a closed room. Isopropyl alcohol has a specific unpleasant odor that is poorly masked by flavors, while methanol has practically no odor.