María Elisa Álvarez Obaya (12 January 1934 – 26 February 2010) was a Spanish pharmacist known for identifying the origin of a
mass poisoning case.
Biography
María Elisa Álvarez Obaya was born in
Villaviciosa, Asturias
Villaviciosa (, ) is a town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Asturias, Spain.
Geography
Villaviciosa is situated on the central eastern coastline, and borders the Asturi ...
on 12 January 1934. She studied pharmacy at the
University of Santiago de Compostela
The University of Santiago de Compostela - USC (, ) is a public university located in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. A second campus is located in Lugo, Galicia. It is one of the world's oldest universities in continuous o ...
and the
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona (official name in ; UB), formerly also known as Central University of Barcelona (), is a public research university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was established in 1450. With 76,000 students, ...
, graduating in 1961.
After receiving her degree, she moved to
Haría, Lanzarote, where she ran a pharmacy. In January 1962 she became the municipal pharmaceutical inspector.
Later, she became a researcher in the laboratories of the pharmaceutical inspector of
Las Palmas
Las Palmas (, ; ), officially Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is a Spanish city and capital of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean.
It is the capital city of the Canary Islands (jointly with Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and the m ...
.
[ She worked there until her death on 26 February 2010.][
]
Methanol poisoning case
In 1963, when she had been Haría's municipal pharmaceutical inspector for one year, Álvarez uncovered an infamous poisoning case. After three Lanzarote residents died and two suddenly went blind, she determined that all had recently consumed alcoholic drinks from a particular winery. She ordered all of the company's products seized from local shops and bars. By analyzing the contents of bottles, carafes, and barrels in her pharmacy's small laboratory, she discovered that the patients had been victims of methanol toxicity
Methanol toxicity (also methanol poisoning) is poisoning from methanol, characteristically via ingestion. Symptoms may include an altered/decreased level of consciousness, poor or no coordination, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a specific smell on ...
. She sent samples to the Las Palmas Health Department, which confirmed her findings.[
Her investigation led to the conviction of an alcohol merchant from ]Ourense
Ourense (; ) is a city and the capital of the province of province of Ourense, Ourense, located in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path o ...
and ten others who had been involved in selling drinks adulterated with dangerous amounts of methyl alcohol, a toxic chemical compound used as antifreeze, solvent, and fuel, across Galicia and the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...
. Despite the rapid action of María Elisa Álvarez, it is estimated that more than 50 people died and that dozens lost their vision as a result.[
]
Honors
In recognition of her work in the "Methyl Case", Álvarez received tributes from the College of Pharmacists of Las Palmas and that of Asturias. In 1965, during the First National Assembly of Pharmacists, held in Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar (; ) is a Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia, Spain. It is south of Girona and northeast of Barcelona. With a population of 38,402 in 2021, it is the second largest town in the Selva (comarca), Selva comarc ...
, she received the with a plaque from the General Council of Pharmacists. The same year, the Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia awarded her the ninth , in its Bronze category.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvarez Obaya, Maria Elisa
1934 births
2010 deaths
People from Villaviciosa, Asturias
Spanish pharmacists
University of Barcelona alumni
Women pharmacists
20th-century pharmacists