Methanol, on the other hand, is proven beyond any doubt to be lethal, in relatively small doses. IIRC, 10ml will make you blind, more will make you mad, and 100ml will make you dead.
Any Methanol absorbed into the skin will produce Formaldehyde in the body, same if the vapours are inhaled. In itself, this is not a problem, but the accumulative effects could lead to problems, far more so than a splash of gasoline on ones skin, or a lung full of wood smoke. There is absolutely nothing paranoid about hard scientific fact.
it might be a little paranoid. Since starting the post I have been doing a lot of reading on this, mainly EPA, CDC material, but also a range of scientific papers, and data sheets.
The EPA consider Metanol to be slightly toxic, as they do Kerosene/parafin
Small quantities of methanol on the skin evaporate quicker than it is a absorbed, and considered a low risk.
The health risks from inhaling methanol are associated with long term regular exposure, over months and years.
Drinking more than 80mls have been associated with death, and there seems no doubt that drinking even small quantities of the stuff, isn't going to do you any good.
So far, I have managed to avoid drinking any of the fuels I use, as they are stored in original containers, or decanted into proper fuel bottles. Trangia bottles for Meths, Primus bottles for Parafin, and MSR bottles for petrol.
The bottles are filled in the open so limited opportunity for any build up of any dangerous concentrations. When fuel is spilt, I wash my hands, not so much for health reasons, but more to get rid of the smell.
Stoves are also filled out of doors, and stored in tent porch. The fuel bottles only have the tops of for a few minutes.
When lit, the stoves are burned with good ventilation to prevent build up of CO, which I am assuming will also help reduce the build up of any unburnt fuel.
Even when I was camping every week, the opportunities for methanol poisoning seem tiny.
Everyone, of course needs to make their own risk assessment, but so far I haven't read anything to convince me that methanol is going to subject me to any greater risks than using the fuels I already use.
Unless I am daft enough to drink the stuff.
cheers,
Graham