2002
DOI: 10.1021/ed079p1237
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The Flawed Nature of the Calibration Factor in Breath-Alcohol Analysis

Abstract: Breath-alcohol analyzers used by law enforcement agencies to evaluate suspected driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) drivers are routinely calibrated with standard, dilute aqueous solutions of ethanol known as simulator solutions. The analyzers are deemed accurate if they generate results within an established margin of error consistent with ethanol concentrations equivalent to the actual concentrations of the simulator solutions. The fundamental flaw of this protocol is that it ignores the fact that a simulator so… Show more

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Cited by 11 publications
(14 citation statements)
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References 16 publications
(20 reference statements)
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“…The consequence of this argument can be exemplifi ed further by considering the following related scenario that has been described elsewhere by Labianca [3] and by Fitzgerald and Labianca [8] and which warrants brief mention here.…”
mentioning
confidence: 77%
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“…The consequence of this argument can be exemplifi ed further by considering the following related scenario that has been described elsewhere by Labianca [3] and by Fitzgerald and Labianca [8] and which warrants brief mention here.…”
mentioning
confidence: 77%
“…A simulator solution maintained at 34°C that generates a result of 0.10% on a properly functioning breathalcohol analyzer has an alcohol concentration of 0.1226% (0.1226 g/100 ml) and an estimated water-alcohol to airalcohol partition ratio (WAR) of 2573:1 [3,4]. Individuals with limited or no scientifi c training frequently explain the discrepancy between these two concentrations-that is, the breath-alcohol analyzer result of 0.10% and the actual simulator solution concentration of 0.1226%, respectively-by providing an explanation that is essentially defi cient and, therefore, confusing.…”
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confidence: 99%
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“…The value of this constant depends on both the solvent and, more significantly, on temperature. The value that is typically used when the solvent is human blood and the solute is ethanol is 2100:1; blood will contain 2100 parts ethanol for each part ethanol measured in the breath at 34°C [15]. Because of the obvious legal ramifications for DUI prosecutions, the soundness of this model and what the appropriate value for the partition ratio should be are constantly coming under scrutiny.…”
Section: The Calibration Phasementioning
confidence: 99%
“…(4), that the BBR, which has units of "mL breath /mL blood " (2), is equal to k EtOH RT, where k EtOH is the Henry's law constant.…”
Section: Bac Brmentioning
confidence: 99%