title: Driving under the influence of alcohol. A 5-year overview in Piedmont, Italy.
abstract: Alcohol consumption represents a major health issue worldwide and a crucial factor in road accidences. This study provides information on the prevalence of alcohol in blood testing performed on 2752 subjects involved in vehicle accidents, which occurred in Piedmont (northern Italy) between 2008 and 2013. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was determined by an ISO 17025 accredited GC/MS procedure. Fifty-one % of positive samples showed BAC concentrations above 1.5 g/L, with a legal cut-off fixed at 0.5 g/L (and 0 g/L for specified categories such as novice and professional drivers). BAC values proved statistically different regarding the day of sampling (week or weekend days), age and gender, with a prevalence of positive results that reflects different drinking habits of a multifaceted population of alcohol consumers.
authors.affiliation: Centro Regionale Antidoping e di Tossicologia "A. Bertinaria", Regione Gonzole 10/1, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leporati
authors.affiliation: Centro Regionale Antidoping e di Tossicologia "A. Bertinaria", Regione Gonzole 10/1, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Salvo
authors.affiliation: Centro Regionale Antidoping e di Tossicologia "A. Bertinaria", Regione Gonzole 10/1, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pirro
authors.affiliation: Centro Regionale Antidoping e di Tossicologia "A. Bertinaria", Regione Gonzole 10/1, 10043, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: alberto.salomone@antidoping.piemonte.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salomone
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000067401:Blood Alcohol Content; D000066448:Driving Under the Influence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000067401:Blood Alcohol Content
keywords: Alcohol; BAC; Piedmont; Traffic injures