Dr Georgi Zhelev: Homemade Rakia and Methylated Spirits Do Not Disinfect

Dr Georgi Zhelev is a lecturer at Trakia University and a recognised specialist in epidemiology, infectious diseases and preventive medicine. Panic over catching COVID-19 is driving people to resort to all manner of unconventional and dangerous disinfection methods — such as using methyl alcohol, antifreeze or so-called first-run spirit.

Read his advice and find out what dangers the use of these substances can lead to.

Dr Georgi Zhelev:

The best products for disinfecting the hands when there is a risk of contracting coronavirus are alcohol-based disinfectants, and since the virus has a lipid envelope, alcohols destroy it very quickly, literally within a few seconds. There are, however, many particulars and details that people need to know in order to disinfect their hands effectively and safely. First of all, when we talk about alcohols, we should note that there are different types — some of them are suitable, but others are absolutely unsuitable for use as disinfectants. As you know, ethyl alcohol has already disappeared from the pharmacies and many people ask me whether they can use methylated spirit. The short answer is NO, they must not. Most of the methylated spirit on the market contains methyl alcohol, which is a highly toxic substance and can cause severe poisoning. Media reports have described the case in Iran, where dozens of people drank methyl alcohol to protect themselves from coronavirus and over 60 have already died… Most people know that methyl alcohol must not be drunk, but they do not know that it is toxic and dangerous when used externally too. Firstly, it can be absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream — this is why using it to disinfect the hands is inappropriate and highly dangerous.

Using it to disinfect surfaces is no less dangerous, since the methyl vapours released — especially in enclosed spaces — are inhaled and can again lead to very severe poisoning. In 2018 the European Commission drastically restricted the use of methyl alcohol in winter screenwash, as it was established that the fumes are inhaled by the passengers in the vehicle — the permitted methyl alcohol content in such products is no more than 0.6%, whereas the concentration of methyl alcohol in methylated spirit is 93%, which makes it clear just how dangerous it is. Once methyl alcohol enters the bloodstream, it is broken down by the liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase into formaldehyde, a highly toxic and indeed carcinogenic compound, which is subsequently broken down by another enzyme (aldehyde dehydrogenase) into formic acid and other compounds that cause very serious damage.

Under no circumstances should the so-called first-run spirit from home rakia production, which consists mainly of methyl alcohol, be used to disinfect the hands. People know that they must not drink it, but the widespread mistake they make is to use it for rubs and massages, without realising that it is absorbed through the skin.

The signs of poisoning appear anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or even days after contact with methyl alcohol, beginning with headache, dizziness and vomiting; vision problems also occur, the so-called “snowstorm” before the eyes, and the poisoning can end in coma and death. It is important for people to know what the antidote is — and that is ethyl alcohol! The casualty must urgently be given between 50 and 150 ml of concentrated alcohol, such as vodka, rakia and so on, and an ambulance must be called immediately.

I have also been asked whether antifreeze can be used to disinfect against coronavirus. It too contains a certain type of alcohol — ethylene glycol — which, however, has no antiviral activity and at the same time is extremely toxic. Poisoning can occur both from ingestion and as a result of absorption through the skin, if it is used to disinfect the hands, or from inhaling its vapours. Antifreeze causes very severe, fatal damage to the kidneys and the brain. The antidote and treatment are the same as for methyl alcohol poisoning.

The most suitable products for hand disinfection are ethyl alcohol (surgical spirit), as well as isopropyl alcohol and n-propanol, which are included in professional hand disinfectants. Surgical spirit is available in shops in 70% and 95% concentrations. The mistake most people make is to use 95% spirit, because they believe that a higher concentration also means greater effectiveness. This relationship holds true for all other disinfectants, but not for spirit. 95% spirit is a weaker disinfectant than 70%, because it causes very rapid denaturation and coagulation of the proteins on the surface of the hand and of the microbial cells, which prevents it from penetrating and acting deeper down, for example in the pores of the skin, resulting in a partial, superficial and unsatisfactory effect. So my recommendation is to use 70% spirit for disinfection. To reduce its drying effect on the skin, which can cause small sores and cracks, it is a good idea to add 10% glycerine to the spirit solution, i.e. 100 millilitres of glycerine per 1 litre of spirit.

As regards the safety of spirit, I can say that using spirit to disinfect hands and surfaces is safe for adults, but I want to draw particular attention to its use with children. In children, alcohol intoxication can quite realistically occur as a result of absorption through the skin, especially with frequent use or when large areas of skin are treated. There have even been reports of fatalities in babies after being rubbed down with rakia. This is why people must be extremely responsible with small children and apply disinfectants only when absolutely necessary, and then very carefully and sparingly.

At present the only type of spirit actually available in shops is denatured ethyl alcohol for technical purposes. Since alcoholic drinks are subject to excise duty, which makes them more expensive, various substances are added to alcohol that is not intended for consumption in order to make it undrinkable — this alcohol is precisely what is called denatured ethyl alcohol. It can be used to disinfect hands and surfaces, but of course not for internal consumption.

Finally, people should know that disinfecting the hands with spirit is not compulsory, and they should not panic over the fact that spirit is currently out of stock in pharmacies and shops. Washing the hands thoroughly with warm water and soap is effective enough, not only to remove the virus but also to destroy it, since soap breaks down the surface structure of the coronavirus — it strips away its “crown”. As additional treatment when cleaning phones, door handles and so on, in the absence of 70% spirit, various spirit drinks such as vodka, rakia and the like can be used, albeit with lower effectiveness.

Source: https://www.infoz.bg/bulgaria/6840-spirt-za-gorene-dezinfektsia?fbclid=IwAR0B5JVdFqHN4K-VlFLNpfXEdZHtvOi5-aD0_ojGWQX4XYhE8SyGCIPCXFM