Digital Screening for Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in a Southern Nigeria City.
OBJECTIVE
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was digitally determined for transport operators, passengers, and pedestrians in a southern Nigeria city.


METHODS
The subjects were screened with a digital breathalyzer, Alco Scan CA 2000, for BAC along major accident-prone highways, resting spots, and hospitals. The mouthpieces were complemented with disposable straws for rapid and hygienic screening of the subjects.


RESULTS
Based on convenience sampling, a significant proportion of Nigerians has a BAC level above 0.06 on accident-prone highways (44.60%), at resting spots (54.50%), and in hospitals (47.80%).


CONCLUSIONS
This research confirms that digital breathalyzer BAC levels are reliable and empirical means for determining incidents of alcohol-impaired driving.
Ehikhamenor
Edeaghe E
EE
College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. savanngo@yahoo.com
Obianwuho
Hope O
HO
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria
D000431:Ethanol