ALCOHOL TOXICITY



GENERAL CELL TOXICANT:
Used as an antiseptic because it kills bacteria cells; will do the same to any cells.

DIGESTIVE TRACT:
Inflammation and cancer of throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, small intestine, colon.
Pancreatitis; diabetes.

LIVER:
Principal site of detoxification metabolism:

alcohol (highly toxic) -> acetaldehyde (toxic) -> acetate -> fat

Supression of vitamin functions and appetite --> malnutrition.
Inflammation & fat deposits --> alcoholic hepatitis; liver cancer.
Cell death & scar tissue --> cirrhosis.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:
High blood pressure & atherosclerosis (from liver fat production).
Cardiomyopathy (direct heart muscle & pacemaker damage).
Impairment of blood cell production --> immune system weakness & anemia.
Vasodilation and heat loss --> exacerbation of hypothermia.
Red blood cell clumping; poor circulation & capillary rupture --> strokes

BRAIN:
Impairment of judgement, vision, coordination --> accidents.
Brain cell death --> dementia (memory loss); polyneuropathy (paralysis).
Acute overdose --> brainstem failure --> coma & death.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM:
Hormone imbalances; impotence.
Germinal (egg & sperm cell) mutations --> birth defects.
Impairment of fetal development --> birth defects, esp. fetal alcohol syndrome (including retardation).
Breast cancer.

EXCRETORY SYSTEM:
Kidney, bladder & prostate inflammation and cancer.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
Stimulates pneumococcus bacteria --> exacerbates pneumonia.


DOSE - RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS:

Most reported deaths from alcohol-induced diseases involve chronic heavy use. But individual tolerances to moderate and even light use vary greatly, and many of the above diseases occur but fail to be recognized or reported as alcohol-induced. E.g., There is strong evidence that 3 to 10 drinks a week increases risk of breast cancer by 30 to 60%. Alcohol is the most broadly toxic substance legally on the market for internal consumption, and is far more toxic than many substances currently banned or restricted by the FDA.

The reported, directly alcohol-induced U.S. annual death rate is at least 100,000, which is 3 times the combined illegal drug death rate, 5 times the homicide rate, and twice the U.S. deaths in the entire 9 yr Vietnam War. Adding the alcohol-induced accident deaths (about 25,000) and alcohol-related suicides (about 13,000), and all unreported or unrecognized alcohol-induced fatal diseases, we likely approach or exceed the 375,000 annual death rate from smoking. None of this includes all of the non-fatal effects of alcohol on individuals and society in terms of disease, family dysfunction, and costs of nonproductivity and health care, etc. (over $120 million annually).

REFERENCES:


Lord, L.J., et al. 1987. Coming to grips with alcoholism. U.S. News & World Report, November 30.

Mader, S. 1990. Human Biology. Wm.C. Brown.

Miller, G.T. 1988. Environmental Science. Wadsworth.

Nelson, G.E. 1989. Biological Principals with Human Perspectives. Wiley & Sons.


Return to BIO103 Mainpage...