The first effect of ethylene glycol ingestion is a sense of inebriation similar to the feeling caused by drinking alcohol (ethanol). Within a few hours, the toxic effects are evident, including: nausea, vomiting, convulsions, stupor, or even coma.
Many organs can be damaged by ethylene glycol toxicity, including: the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and muscles. As little as 120 ml (approximately 4 fluid ounces) of ethylene glycol may be enough to kill an average-sized man.
Ethylene glycol toxicity results when enzymes in the liver metabolize (break down) ethylene glycol into smaller compounds, which deposit in body tissue and cause damage.
These compounds also cause disturbances in the body's chemistry, including metabolic acidosis, which is a buildup of acids in the blood. The disturbances may be severe enough to cause profound shock, organ failure, and death.
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