Ethanol also commonly called alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and drinking alcohol, is the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages.

Drinks with 0.5% or more ethanol are called alcoholic. When people talk about it, they often name it simply as alcohol. It is used as a solvent because it can dissolve many other chemicals and is not very toxic.

Alcohol, or ethanol, is the intoxicating agent found in beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is produced by fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches.1 Fruits such as grapes, and grains like barley and wheat are most commonly used for wine, beer and liquors. Other plants, such as the cactus or sugar cane may be used in liquor production.

Given below are some of the hazardous effects of Ethanol, for more information on excessive use of Ethanol, please visit: http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol/short-term-long-term-effects.html

Long-term alcohol misuse is associated with liver and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and nervous system damage as well as psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and antisocial personality disorder. Once the body develops a dependence on alcohol, a sudden cessation of its intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms.

Mixing alcohol with caffeine, either in premixed drinks or by adding liquor to energy drinks has become a common way for younger crowds to consume alcohol. This combination is very lethal and way more riskier than whiskey.

Excessive use of alcohol can lead to alcoholism or alcohol dependence. There are four cardinal symptoms in alcoholism: craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance.

Alcohol use and binge drinking among teens is a major public health concern. In 1999, alcohol use among high school students was reported in 1 out of every 2 students. In 2009, current alcohol use rates among high school students decreased to 42 percent, with 24 percent reporting episodic heavy or binge drinking. No amount of alcohol consumption can be considered safe in pregnancy.

Alcohol is quickly transferred from the mother’s bloodstream to the fetus. Alcohol can be toxic to the developing baby, not only in the first three months of pregnancy when important organs are developing, but at any time, as brain development continues throughout pregnancy. Damage can also occur early in pregnancy before a woman might know she is pregnant. Although there is no known safe amount of alcohol that a woman can drink, the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, growth retardation and mental defects increase the more alcohol a pregnant woman consumes in one setting and the more frequently she drinks overall.

To know more about detecting the presence of Ethanol in Air & Water or any other chemical compound, please visit our chemical solutions page: https://www.estcal.com/resource/technical-paper-real-time-chemical-process-measurements

Due to its low molecular weight and high volatility, ethanol is at the lower limit of detectable compounds which can be analyzed by zNose®.

Detecting ethanol in air and water is fast and easy using zNose® electronic nose or portable gas chromatograph. Even though ethanol is at the lower limit of detectable compounds, concentrations well into the low part-per-million range can be quantified with good precision and accuracy. As ethanol is very soluble in water, headspace measurements are best performed with water samples elevated to at least 40oC. Use of a PTFE inlet filter is recommended to prevent water droplets from forming,

entering the instrument, and possibly damaging the sensitive vapor detector.

Alcoholism is a treatable disease but is considered a lifelong, chronic illness that requires counseling, support and often medication to control cravings.Hence, this blog tells us about how Ethyl Alcohol or Ethanol works.