Influence from breathing pattern on alcohol and tracer gas expirograms--implications for alcolock use.
Measurement of breath alcohol concentration is strongly influenced by timing and the breathing pattern. In particular, shallow expiration and hyperventilation leads to underestimation of the breath alcohol concentration. In the present study, expirograms of alcohol, water and carbon dioxide were recorded in 30 healthy individuals at various breathing manoeuvres (tidal volume, slow maximum and vital capacity expiration, breath holding, and hyperventilation). Estimation of the end expiratory alcohol concentration with the use of simultaneously measured carbon dioxide was shown to reverse the tendency of underestimation at shallow expiration and hyperventilation. These findings indicate that breath alcohol estimations can be performed at shorter expiration time and reduced expired volume compared to existing alcolocks. This is believed to improve their usability and to prevent a possible route for manipulation.
Kaisdotter Andersson
Annika
A
Hök Instrument AB, Flottiljgatan 49, SE-721 31 Västerås, Sweden. annika@hokinstrument.se
Hök
Bertil
B
Ekström
Mikael
M
Hedenstierna
Göran
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D013990:Tidal Volume; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000431:Ethanol