2016 Irkutsk mass methanol poisoning
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In December 2016, 71 people died in a mass methanol poisoning in Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia, Russia. The poisoning was precipitated by drinking counterfeit "surrogate alcohol"[a] — actually scented bath lotion that was mislabeled as containing ethanol.[1][2][3]
Causes
At about a third of the cost of traditional vodka, the bath lotion was purchased as a drink because of its low price amid extreme economic conditions.[1] Such purchases have been on the rise in recent years as Russia's economy has suffered from low oil prices and international sanctions put into place during the Ukrainian crisis.[3] Russia's deputy prime minister remarked before this incident that such non-traditional alcohol made up 20% of the total alcohol consumed in the country.[4] As such, alcohol poisonings in the country are not infrequent, but the death toll in this incident led the Associated Press to call it "unprecedented in its scale."[3]
The lotion was mixed with methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, CH3OH), a simple alcohol which is poisonous to the central nervous system and other parts of the body. Methanol is cheaper than the alcohol found in vodka and other alcoholic drinks, ethanol (ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, CH3CH2OH). The two alcohols are similar in many respects and cannot readily be distinguished. The contents differed from the labels on the bottles, which indicated that they contained ethyl alcohol—specifically, "93 percent of ethyl alcohol, hawthorn extract, lemon oil, diethyl phthalate and glycerol."[5] According to early reports, a total of 57 people were hospitalized, with 49 dying.[1][3] The victims were described as being poor residents of the Novo-Lenino neighborhood in Irkutsk, all between the ages of 35 and 50.[2][6] Subsequent reports increased the number affected to 107, with 62 deaths.[7][8]
Aftermath
Several people involved in the production of the lotion have been arrested by Russian authorities, and about 500 litres (130 US gal) of remaining counterfeit lotion were seized from the underground facility where it had been produced.[3]
After the incident, a spokesperson for Russian president Vladimir Putin called it a "terrible tragedy". Dmitry Medvedev, the prime minister, called for a ban on non-traditional alcoholic liquids like the bath lotion, stating that "it's an outrage, and we need to put an end to this."[3] On 21 December 2016, the Russian news agency Interfax reported that Putin planned to lower taxes on alcohol in an effort to curb the use of unsafe alcohol substitutes, requiring officials to present a plan by 31 March 2017.[9]
See also
Notes
- ^ "Surrogate alcohol" or "pharmacy alcohol" refers to the use of products like perfume and aftershave as "substitutes" for vodka.
References
- ^ a b c Nechepurenko, Ivan (19 December 2016). "In Russia, Dozens Dies After Drinking Alcohol Substitute". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ a b "State of emergency declared in Russia as 49 die in bath lotion drinking case". CBS News. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Isachenkov, Vladimir (19 December 2016). "Alcohol poisoning death toll in Russian city rises to 49". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ "Russia bath lotion kills 48 drinkers in Irkutsk". BBC News. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ "48 people die after drinking bath lotion with antifreeze in Siberia". RT. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ "Dozens Dead in Siberia from Counterfeit Alcohol Poisoning". Moscow Times. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ Shaun Walker (21 December 2016). "Vladimir Putin orders clampdown on 'surrogate' alcohol as deaths rise". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ "Russia bath lotion poisoning: Putin orders crackdown as death toll rises". BBC. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ "Putin Plans Alcohol Tax Cuts After Siberian Poisoning Tragedy". Moscow Times. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.