甲醇被大眾所熟知，具有毒性。工業(yè)酒精中大約含有4%的甲醇，若被不法分子當作食用酒精制作假酒，飲用后，會(huì )產(chǎn)生甲醇中毒。甲醇的致命劑量大約是70毫升。
　　Methanol is well known and toxic. Industrial alcohol contains about 4% methanol. If it is used as edible alcohol by illegal elements to make fake wine, it will produce methanol poisoning after drinking. The lethal dose of methanol is about 70 ml.
　　甲醇的毒性對人體的神經(jīng)系統和血液系統影響很大，它經(jīng)消化道、呼吸道或皮膚攝入都會(huì )產(chǎn)生毒性反應，甲醇蒸氣能損害人的呼吸道粘膜和視力。在甲醇生產(chǎn)工廠(chǎng)，中國有關(guān)部門(mén)規定，空氣甲醇的濃度限制為PC-stel=50mg/m3，PC-TWA=25mg/m3，在有甲醇氣的現場(chǎng)工作須戴防毒面具、工廠(chǎng)廢水要處理后才能排放，允許含量小于200mg/L的甲醇。
　　The toxicity of methanol has a great influence on the nervous system and blood system of human body. Intake of methanol through digestive tract, respiratory tract or skin can produce toxic reactions. Methanol vapor can damage human respiratory mucosa and visual acuity. In methanol production plants, the relevant authorities in China stipulate that the concentration of methanol in the air is limited to PC-stel=50mg/m3, PC-TWA=25mg/m3. In the presence of methanol, gas masks must be worn in the field work, and the waste water of the plant must be treated before discharging, allowing methanol with a content of less than 200mg/L.

　　甲醇的中毒機理是，甲醇經(jīng)人體代謝產(chǎn)生甲醛和甲酸（俗稱(chēng)蟻酸），然后對人體產(chǎn)生傷害。常見(jiàn)的癥狀是，先是產(chǎn)生喝醉的感覺(jué)，數小時(shí)后頭痛，惡心，嘔吐，以及視線(xiàn)模糊。嚴重者會(huì )失明，乃至喪命。失明的原因：甲醇的代謝產(chǎn)物甲酸累積在眼睛部位，破壞視覺(jué)神經(jīng)細胞。腦神經(jīng)也會(huì )受到破壞，而產(chǎn)生長(cháng)久性損害。甲酸進(jìn)入血液后，會(huì )使組織酸性越來(lái)越強，損害腎臟導致腎衰竭。
　　The poisoning mechanism of methanol is that methanol is metabolized by human body to produce formaldehyde and formic acid (commonly known as formic acid), and then harmful to human body. Common symptoms are drunkenness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision hours later. Serious people will lose their sight or even their lives. Causes of blindness: Formic acid, a metabolite of methanol, accumulates in the eye and destroys visual nerve cells. Brain nerves can also be damaged, resulting in long-term damage. When formic acid enters the blood, it makes the tissue more acidic, damages the kidney and leads to kidney failure.