甲醇被大众所熟知，具有毒性。工业酒精中大约含有4%的甲醇，若被不法分子当作食用酒精制作假酒，饮用后，会产生甲醇中毒。甲醇的致命剂量大约是70毫升。
　　Methanol is well known and toxic. Industrial alcohol contains about 4% methanol. If it is used as edible alcohol by illegal elements to make fake wine, it will produce methanol poisoning after drinking. The lethal dose of methanol is about 70 ml.
　　甲醇的毒性对人体的神经系统和血液系统影响很大，它经消化道、呼吸道或皮肤摄入都会产生毒性反应，甲醇蒸气能损害人的呼吸道粘膜和视力。在甲醇生产工厂，中国有关部门规定，空气甲醇的浓度限制为PC-stel=50mg/m3，PC-TWA=25mg/m3，在有甲醇气的现场工作须戴防毒面具、工厂废水要处理后才能排放，允许含量小于200mg/L的甲醇。
　　The toxicity of methanol has a great influence on the nervous system and blood system of human body. Intake of methanol through digestive tract, respiratory tract or skin can produce toxic reactions. Methanol vapor can damage human respiratory mucosa and visual acuity. In methanol production plants, the relevant authorities in China stipulate that the concentration of methanol in the air is limited to PC-stel=50mg/m3, PC-TWA=25mg/m3. In the presence of methanol, gas masks must be worn in the field work, and the waste water of the plant must be treated before discharging, allowing methanol with a content of less than 200mg/L.

　　甲醇的中毒机理是，甲醇经人体代谢产生甲醛和甲酸（俗称蚁酸），然后对人体产生伤害。常见的症状是，先是产生喝醉的感觉，数小时后头痛，恶心，呕吐，以及视线模糊。严重者会失明，乃至丧命。失明的原因：甲醇的代谢产物甲酸累积在眼睛部位，破坏视觉神经细胞。脑神经也会受到破坏，而产生长久性损害。甲酸进入血液后，会使组织酸性越来越强，损害肾脏导致肾衰竭。
　　The poisoning mechanism of methanol is that methanol is metabolized by human body to produce formaldehyde and formic acid (commonly known as formic acid), and then harmful to human body. Common symptoms are drunkenness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision hours later. Serious people will lose their sight or even their lives. Causes of blindness: Formic acid, a metabolite of methanol, accumulates in the eye and destroys visual nerve cells. Brain nerves can also be damaged, resulting in long-term damage. When formic acid enters the blood, it makes the tissue more acidic, damages the kidney and leads to kidney failure.