title: [Falsification of breath alcohol concentration measurement. An experimental and case report].
abstract: As a rule, in our comparison of breath alcohol and blood alcohol concentration levels both readings were in agreement. Nevertheless, we repeatedly observed readings showing significant differences for which there was no apparent explanation. In two cases where discrepancies were extreme (breath alcohol concentration greater than 2.0%; blood alcohol concentration, 0.0%) we discovered that the cause was sniffing. The effects of various pharmaceutical drugs were tested. Experimentally the inhalation of liquid gas resulted in ostensible breath alcohol concentration levels of more than 2%. These experiments were reproducible. Consequences for the exployment of alcohol breath testing devices are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Rechtsmedizin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kijewski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sprung
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eggert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001944:Breath Tests; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D013800:Theft / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
vernacular_title: Zur Verfälschung der Messung der Atemalkoholkonzentration. Ein experimenteller und kasuistischer Beitrag.