Question

If ingestion of ethylene glycol occurs, it can cause depression of the central nervous system, cardiovascular damage, and kidney failure. If discovered quickly, hemodialysis may be used to remove ethylene glycol from the blood. A toxic amount of ethylene glycol is 1.5 g of ethylene glycol/kg of body mass. Thus, 75 g could be fatal for a 50-kg (110 lb) person.

A container was found in the home of the victim that contained 120 g of ethylene glycol in 450 g of liquid. How many drinks, each containing 100 g of this liquid, would a 65 kg victim need to consume to reach a toxic level of ethylene glycol?

Answer 1

Conditions: m(C2H6O2)=120g; m(sol)=450g; m(part of sol)=100g; m(Victim)=65kg; Dens(C2H6O2)=1.113g/cm3 N(Drinks)-?

Solution: 1. Ethylene glycol has been shown to be toxic to humans[1] and is also toxic to domestic pets such as cats and dogs. A toxic dose requiring medical treatment varies but is considered more than 0.1 mL per kg body weight (mL/kg) of pure substance. 2. The orally lethal dose in humans has been reported as approximately 1.4 mL/kg of pure ethylene glycol.. Actually we are interested in the orally lethal dose! 3. The orally lethal dose in [g] = 1.4/1.113=1.258(g) And the dose for 65kg victim is 1.258*65=81.746(g) 4. In the 100g of have: 120g(C2H6O2) it is 450g of sol Xg(C2H6O2) it is 100g of sol Hereof X=120*100/450 = 26.666(g)(C2H6O2) in 100g of solution 5. For 65kg victim need to drink 81.746/26.666=3.065(drinks) Answer: A toxic level of ethylene glycol(the orally lethal dose) will be obtained after 3 drinks each contain 100g of 450g solutions