Uncertainty in the Results of Breath-Alcohol Analyses

Labianca, Dominick A.

doi:10.1021/ed076p508

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The thermodynamics of drink driving (LaBianca, 1990;Thompson, 1997) are also referred to as average equilibrium constants based on Henry's law. In a more advanced course, critical analysis of statistical data (LaBianca, 1999), as well as analytical chemistry experimental determination of alcohol content (Lokken, 1975) and equipment used in the lab and daily life. Also, it is discussed the healthy effects of moderate drinking compared to the devastating effects of binge drinking (Stockwell et al 2016).…”

Section: Calculation Concentrations Of Alcohol Of Common Drinksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethanol in class and at home: guided inquiry-based learning

Rodrigues

2022

8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'22)

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Guided inquiry-based learning centered on ethanol - used in the last eleven years in the first year of graduation in chemistry in a course created to stimulate critical thinking and integration in the university world - is presented and described. This ranges from the calculation of concentrations and the estimation of the rates of elimination and energies involved, to more controversial, as women and men characteristics, alcohol and diet paradoxes, societal issues, as binge drinking, and technological issues, as the working of the breathalizer. All these issues are discussed using scientific results and show in practice how science develops and can be used for students' daily life.

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Section: Calculation Concentrations Of Alcohol Of Common Drinksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethanol in class and at home: guided inquiry-based learning

Rodrigues

2022

8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'22)

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“…Among the established methods for determining the concentration of ethanol in a body is the breath alcohol test, which measures the concentration of ethanol in one’s breath using the breathalyzers [ 6 ]. The accuracy and precision of the breathalyzers, however, is controversial, as there are studies indicating uncertainty in the estimation of breath alcohol concentrations due to lack of sensitivity and specificity of the method [ 7 , 8 ]. For higher accuracy and precision, ethanol is determined in human blood through various types of gas chromatography (GC), including direct injection GC and headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Study of Sample Carriers for the Identification of Volatile Compounds in Biological Fluids Using Raman Spectroscopy

et al. 2022

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Vibrational spectroscopic techniques and especially Raman spectroscopy are gaining ground in substituting the officially established chromatographic methods in the identification of ethanol and other volatile substances in body fluids, such as blood, urine, saliva, semen, and vaginal fluids. Although a couple of different carriers and substrates have been employed for the biochemical analysis of these samples, most of them are suffering from important weaknesses as far as the analysis of volatile compounds is concerned. For this reason, in this study three carriers are proposed, and the respective sample preparation methods are described for the determination of ethanol in human urine samples. More specifically, a droplet of the sample on a highly reflective carrier of gold layer, a commercially available cuvette with a mirror to enhance backscattered radiation sealed with a lid, and a home designed microscope slide with a cavity coated with gold layer and covered with transparent cling film have been evaluated. Among the three proposed carriers, the last one achieved a quick, simple, and inexpensive identification of ethanol, which was used as a case study for the volatile compound, in the biological samples. The limit of detection (LoD) was found to be 1.00 μL/mL, while at the same time evaporation of ethanol was prevented.

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“…Of course, the outcome of this hypothetical case would benefi t the defendant, but there is a corollary to the message of this situation that has been detailed elsewhere [3,9,10] and that should be briefl y mentioned here. That is, just as a subject undergoing breath-alcohol analysis and having a BBR at test time higher than 2100:1 produces a false-low result, assuming no other sources of error, the subject with a BBR below 2100:1 generates a false-high result, to his/her detriment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Uncertainty in the Results of Breath-Alcohol Analyses

Abstract: Arguments are presented to support the position that many DUI arrestees can be in the absorptive state. Under that condition, breath-alcohol analysis can be particularly discriminatory to test subjects, and the author provides data consistent with this conclusion.

Cited by 3 publications

References 17 publications

Ethanol in class and at home: guided inquiry-based learning

Ethanol in class and at home: guided inquiry-based learning

Comparative Study of Sample Carriers for the Identification of Volatile Compounds in Biological Fluids Using Raman Spectroscopy

Breath-alcohol analyzers and simulator solutions: a commentary on a deficient explanation of test results

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