Methanol not toxic?
While touted by the Environmental Protection Agency as a substitute fuel for gasoline, environmental health researchers are concerned about the toxicity of methanol. In a study done by the University of Rochester on the neurobehavioral toxicology of methanol, it was concluded that ". . . solvents such as methanol, endocrine disruptors such as the PCBs, and drugs such as cocaine are potent nervous system poisons whose capacity to inflict damage to the developing brain greatly exceeds their capacity to induce damage in the adult brain. . . .this damage may remain silent . . ."
"Acute (short-term) exposure of humans to methanol by inhalation or ingestion may result in visual disturbances, such as blurred or dimness of vision, leading to blindness. Neurological damage, specifically permanent motor dysfunction, may also result. chronic (long-term) inhalation or oral exposure to methanol may result in conjunctivitis, headach, giddiness, insomnia, gastric disturbances, visual disturbances, and blindness in humans."
Everyone wants to think alcohols are the answer to all of our problems but they fail to realize they will just create different problems.
Have you owned a methanol powered car? I have had 2 and dont ever want one again. You spend hours cleaning the fuel system before and after every race. Plus, if you dont know what you are doing you can really damage your engine. I see way to many head aches with methanol in an entry level class. Lets stick with some sort of low octane (98) race gas and be done with it.