5 Commonly Known Facts About Alcohol (Ethanol)

1. It acts as a central nervous system depressant.

2. Its effect will vary considerably from individual to individual being influenced by factors such as body weight, gender and age.

3. It has been linked to an increased risk of liver disease and various cancers.

4. It has been reported that that 3.6% of all cancer cases worldwide are related to alcohol drinking.

5. It has been estimated that an average person can eliminate 15 ml of alcohol per hour.

5 Not So Commonly Known Facts About Alcohol (Ethanol)

1. Alcohol is a neurotoxin; it reduces the ability of neurons to transmit signals and thereby allow communication between nerve cells and all other cells.

2. It is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract but cannot be stored in the body. It is therefore eliminated by the kidneys (5% in the urine), the lungs (5% exhalation of alcohol) and the remainder by metabolism in the liver.

3. Metabolism in the liver proceeds via the oxidation of alcohol to acetaldehyde (more toxic) and then conversion to acetic acid.

4. Alcohol is metabolised more slowly than it is absorbed, which means that it can potentially accumulate in the body giving rise to intoxication.

5. Alcohol abuse can lead to three types of liver disease, fatty liver (steatosis), hepatitis and cirrhosis.Heavy drinkers will risk problems if subsequently exposed to solvents such as carbon tetrachloride. This is because the rate of solvent clearance will be reduced, thus increasing the risk of harm.

Did you know that...

...5000 years ago the Chinese were busy brewing beer called “Kui”