IS ETHYL ALCOHOL (ETHANOL) HARMFUL ?

Ethanol is a colourless, clear industrial chemical that is extremely combustible and rapidly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Following water, ethanol is the most abundant chemical component.so, it is extremely flammable. Ethanol is used to dissolve other chemicals and easily combines with water and many organic liquids. The National Pollutant Inventory classifies ethanol as a volatile organic component.

Ethanol also known as ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol (beer, wine, whiskey, spirit), or just alcohol, which is the major alcohol component found in alcoholic drinks. It is created by the fermentation of sugar using yeast. Ethanol can produce drunkenness. Furthermore, ethanol is utilised as a solvent, antiseptic, fossil fuel, and active fluid in mercury thermometers.

It also has antibacterial characteristics, which makes it useful as a topical disinfectant. Because of its depressing properties, ethanol is classified as a medication. Although, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers ethanol to be generally harmless, a blood level of 0.4% or above can be lethal.

Ethanol is classified as an organic solvent. In food and beverages, ethanol or ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent and extraction solvent. Ethanol is used as a solvent for resins, fats, oils, and acids. In the food and beverage industry, ethanol or ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent for the extraction of colouring and flavouring components, as well as a soft drink stabiliser. For example, Ethanol bring out rich food tastes while also dispersing the colours in it. Vanilla extract, a common household commodity, is made by refining vanilla beans in an ethanol solution.

However, ethanol is commonly employed in three applications: booze, medication, and fuel. In medicine, ethanol is used as an antiseptic in antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers to kill germs by destroying proteins and dissolving lipids, and it is effective against most bacteria, fungi, and virus.

In terms of fuel, it is utilised as an addition. When ethanol is used as a gasoline additive or alternative, it is created in vehicle exhaust. Ethanol may also be produced as a by-product of vehicle gasoline evaporation from the engine and fuel tank. Among them are gasohol or E10 (90% petrol with 10% ethanol) and E85 (85% ethanol with 15% petrol). Ethanol is thought to lower vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution.

Ethanol is a prevalent component in alcohol and the most often used psychoactive substance. Ethanol depresses the central nervous system. Ethanol is occasionally added to some spirits to stop fermentation promptly, resulting in a pleasant flavour. Beer labelled as “non-alcoholic” may contain up to 0.5% ethanol.

Ethanol is a natural by-product of plant fermentation that may also be created by the hydration of ethylene. Therefore, a material that passes through the fermentation process will include ethanol at varying levels. Ethanol is a vital industrial chemical that is used as a solvent, in the production of other organic compounds, and as a fuel additive.

Reference:

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/substances/fact-sheets/ethanol-ethyl-alcohol