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> In 2004, an unidentified Taiwanese woman died of alcohol intoxication after immersion for twelve hours in a bathtub filled with 40% ethanol. Her blood alcohol content was 1.35%. It was believed that she had immersed herself as a response to the SARS epidemic.

Bizarre

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I'd imagine the fumes were quite bad too. Inhalation can be a different beast when it comes to alcohol.

I thought of the fumes too. Clinical studies show that alcohol doesn't absorb well through skin. e.g. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596158/

the wrappings were subsequently soaked with 200 ml of 95% (v/v) ethanol. Although the ethanol-soaked cotton was kept covering the skin with rubber sheeting and adhesive tapes for 4–9 hours, no ethanol was measurable in the blood.

Interesting. I didn't realize it was that bad at absorption.

Some also probably entered the bloodstream via the colon / genitals.

IF she wanted to clean her skin, Why on earth would she bathe for more than 10 mins?! It must have burned!

Perhaps the fumes made her too drunk to leave? Is that possible?

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