Toxicology specialist says even patients who survived poisoning ‘unscathed’ could still develop problems

Leading toxicology expert Daniela Pelcová of the General teaching Hospital in Prague has warned that even patients who survived methanol poisoning in the recent outbreak – and were released from hospital without permanent damage – could develop related health problems later in life. In an interview for the Czech news agency, the specialist stressed that neurological problems or problems with eyesigh, related to the original poisoning, could surface later. Ms Pelcová referred to an Estonian study that showed that problems in some patients surfaced as much as six years later; at the same time, she admitted the results of the study were not conclusive; other outside factors could have had an effect.